What is the Community Nursing Service

The Community Nursing Service consists of teams of staff nurses and nursing auxiliaries led by a Lead Nurse. Nurses work as a team so there is always someone available to look after you.

The Community Nursing staff are employed by NHS Western Isles. They work alongside other health care professionals such as doctors, a range of local specialist nurses, health visitors, practice nurses and community psychiatric nurses. They also work closely with Social Work and Home Care Services, provided by Comhairle nan Eilean Siar.

What does a Community Nurse do?

The aim of the Community Nursing Service is to help you and your family or carer cope with the effects of your illness, particularly when your illness stops you from being independent and being able to look after yourself. The service provides nursing care to children and adults of all ages and their carers in their own homes.

This may include care:

• for people who have a long term illness or disability such as stroke or multiple sclerosis
• for people who have come out of hospital after an operation or treatments
• at home to prevent people having to go into hospital
• for people who are terminally ill

How do I get to see a Community Nurse?

The GP or hospital staff may suggest that the Community Nurse would be of assistance to you. However, you or a relative or friend can contact the Community Nurses directly; your local health clinic can provide their contact numbers.

In Lewis, Harris and Barra, contact either your local health clinic or your GP surgery for the contact number of the Community Nurse.

In Uists, the islands are split into District Teams and can be contacted as follows:

North Uist – 01876 500309.  Middle District – 01870 602266.  South Uist – 01878 70442.

Where will I see the Community Nurse?

Most often the Community Nurse will visit you at home; however, some Community Nurses hold clinics in the doctors surgery.

What will the Community Nurse need?

The Community Nurse may need somewhere to wash his/her hands and a safe place to keep nursing notes and dressings or equipment, etc.

What hours does the Community Nurse work?

The Community Nursing Service is available around the clock. During office hours you can reach a nurse by phoning your local health clinic. Outside office hours there is an evening and weekend on-call system. Your local health clinic will have those details.

How do I get to see other health care or social work professionals?

In discussion with you (and your family, friends or carers if appropriate), the Community  Nurse can arrange for additional help from a social worker, podiatrist, etc.

Can my relatives or carers speak to the Community Nurse?

If you are happy for your relatives or carers to discuss your care with the Community Nurse, the nurse will be happy to answer their questions.