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The Social Work Service provides help, advice, information and services
to people with illnesses, disabilities and their carers. They can help
you get access to those services, some of which are provided by the department.
Social Workers work from various offices throughout the area but your
local office will be able to give you the necessary contact number.
Care Managers are employed by the Social Work Service. They usually have
a qualification in Social Work, General Nursing, Psychiatric Nursing or
Occupational Therapy. They have experience working with people who have
health problems.
The Care Manager will discuss with you what support you feel you need
and he or she will make arrangements to provide appropriate services.
You can ask for an assessment by a Care Manager.
For more information about Care Management you can contact a Care Manager
directly (See your area for further details) or you can ask your G.P.,
Health Visitor or District Nurse to make a referral directly to the Community
Care Team on your behalf.
Community Occupational Therapists (O.T’s) are employed by the Social
Work Service. They aim to improve the quality of life experienced by people
with an illness or disability, by helping them achieve maximum independence.
They can give advice about the range of specialist equipment available
and about the types of adaptations that can be provided. Advice available
ranges from products that assist with bathing, getting in/out of bed,
and hand rails and ramps.
Pharmaceutical Services within the National Health Service are provided
by Community pharmacists under contract to Grampian Health Board. In more
remote areas there is no community pharmacy, local GP’s provide
dispensing services for their patients. Pharmaceutical services for hospital
inpatients, outpatients and patients on discharge from hospital are provided
by the hospital pharmacy.
Cancer nurse specialists
are nurses who have undertaken further training and have chosen to utilise
their advanced skills in the care of patients with cancer, or one
particular aspect or type of cancer.
As such, they are able to provide direct
cancer support and specialist advice to patients and their families.
They will also have a role as professional
advisers and work with other cancer service providers to develop and
deliver care to ensure that it meets with individual patient need.
Based at hospitals, they visit patients
whilst they are in hospital, or arrange to contact them during out-patient
appointments. Alternatively, patients and their relatives or carers
can also contact them via telephone for advice or to discuss particular aspects of the
patient's care.
Colorectal/Stoma Care Nurses are nurses who have
undertaken extra training to specialise in this area of care. They
provide information, practical advice and support to patients and their
families/carers.
This is delivered in both hospital and community
settings, networking with various agencies to ensure a seamless service.
Dietitians are available in hospital and community
settings. They can suggest suitable foods to eat, as well as
information about nutritious foods and supplements. They are able to
advise prescription of supplements where appropriate and can also advise
on how to cope with eating difficulties.
District Nurses are qualified nurses who undertake further training to
enable them to nurse patients in their own homes. They offer expert and
specialist nursing care and advice to acute, chronic and terminally ill
patients of all age groups. The object of nursing input is to assess individual
and family needs and to mobilise help and support where necessary. They
work closely with other professionals to enable them to get the best possible
care to you or your relative.
Health Visitors are registered nurses who undertake additional training.
They are involved with the promotion of health and the prevention of illness.
Their purpose is to establish relationships through which they can provide
information about “promotion of health” at any age. They aim
at preventing ill health by identifying, where possible, health problems
before they become serious or chronic. They can liaise with or refer people
to other health professionals, as necessary.
Macmillan nurses are specialists in cancer and palliative care working
in a variety of roles in hospitals and in the community. They use their
skills in emotional support and also pain and symptom control to help
people with cancer, and their families.
Macmillan nurses are part of a multi-disciplinary team, working along
with doctors, nurses, O.T.’s social workers and others whose role
it is to provide the best and most up-to-date care for people with cancer
and their families at every stage of their illness – from diagnosis
onwards.
The Marie Curie nurse, for people with cancer, can visit regularly two
to three times a week, day or night, over a period of time not exceeding
six months. The service is presently mainly used overnight for periods
of approximately 8 hours at a time to allow the carer a good night’s
sleep. This service can be obtained by contacting your District Nurse.
Provides a comprehensive fitting service for patients
who require breast prosthesis and a comprehensive Advisory service for
Breast prosthesis patients. Also provides a comprehensive wig
advice service for patients suffering short and long term Alopecia.
NHS 24 is a 24hr telephone health advice and information service that
is now available in Grampian. The service is provided by highly experienced
and qualified nurses. NHS 24 also provides a health information service,
should you be looking for information on medical conditions.
Physiotherapists have a detailed knowledge of body mechanics. They deal
with disturbances and pain of movement and posture, bone and muscle injuries,
stiffness and weakness, and all aspects of rehabilitation.
The aim of the Physiotherapy Service is to assess, diagnose and treat
all ages of patients, with a wide variety of conditions.
If a person requires help and advice from a physiotherapist the best
route is by referral through their doctor, and Physiotherapist assessment/treatment
will be arranged at home, at the clinic or at the hospital out-patient
department, whichever is most convenient to the person.
Chaplains provide
spiritual, religious and pastoral support in hospitals. They are
available for patients, relatives, carers, visitors and staff. Perhaps
you just want someone day or night to listen to you, or to offer support,
perhaps to celebrate or to comfort or to pray with you.
Chaplains are
available for everyone, with or without specified religious beliefs, and
they will respect your confidentiality.
Chaplains also
conduct services of worship in various hospital settings. All are welcome
to share in these acts of worship. They will also be happy to put you in
touch with a particular church or faith group in your area, should this be
helpful to you.
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