The home enteral feeding service is a community based service which provides all dietetic and specialist nurse support for patients who are fed by a feeding tube in the community setting, across County Durham and Darlington (with the exception of Easington). The team work closely with Nutricia, which is the company contracted to provide the feeds and associated equipment, to ensure a high quality comprehensive service is provided. The service provides personalised training and education sessions to everyone involved with the care of the patient, covering patients, their carers, nursing and residential homes, schools and nurseries. This includes:
The service also provides:
The team has regular contact with patients and their carers to support them with all aspects of enteral tube feeding. They ensure all new patients are registered with Nutricia Homeward service and patients have a constant supply of home enteral feeds and equipment. Patients are reviewed according to need. The service is available Monday to Friday 9.00am - 5.00 pm. Out of hours, there is a national out of hours nurse advice line - 08457 623636 - manned by the contracted home enteral feeding company's nurses.
Patients are referred to the service through a variety of healthcare professionals.
The team is based at Bishop Auckland Hospital first floor, covering County Durham and Darlington.
'The treatment I have received from all the staff has been excellent and could you extend my thanks to them all. A very thankful and relieved patient'.
Patient, Dermatology Outpatients Department, University Hospital of North Durham