District nurses work closely with GPs and can make regular visits to patients and their families at home. They provide help and advice with the practical aspects of nursing care, including wound dressings, injections, taking out stitches and managing stomas, catheters or feeding tubes.
District nurses can also arrange for certain equipment – such as a commode, bedpan or special mattress – to be used at home if needed. They can also assess your care needs in your home and refer you to help from other healthcare professionals. In some areas, district nurses can visit in the evening and at night-time.
If you need district nursing support, the ward nurse or discharge coordinator will contact the local district nursing service to arrange a home visit. They will also send the district nurse information about the care received in the hospital.