Our successes

There are six specific areas that have been concentrated on.

• The development of Wound management pathways by treating service users with previously infected or neglected wounds to treatment within agencies, which have led to referrals to plastic surgeons, vascular nurse specialists for doppler assessments leading to compression therapy; and ultimately has lead to a reduction in infections which need hospitalisation.
• DVT management through administration of Clexane injections organised through care and continuing engagement in treatment, referrals to Haematology and constant monitoring for deterioration or hospital referrals.
• The growth of sexual health pathways including working with outreach CASH nurses, initiating STI screenings and treatments, breast screenings, cervical smears and the organisation of contraceptive prescriptions; all of which has proved to be very successful.
• Brief interventions around alcohol use and the development of an alcohol pathway including safer drinking advice, healthier lifestyle advice and referrals to the Wakefield Alcohol Team.
• The development of the Mental Health Pathway which include working in partnership with Crisis Intervention teams, Community Mental Health teams and Assertive Outreach. These have included HAD and PHQ9 assessments, working with clients with self help leaflets on low mood/anxiety/sleep and low self esteem and using the Beating The Blues system.
• Last but not least is the encouragement on exercise and diet which monitors client’s weight and BMI, the giving of diet advice around '5 A Day', referrals to health trainers, and the recording of blood pressure, also the improvement of dental care pathways encouraging clients to access treatment and continue to engage with their dental practice.

In addition to these specific pathways the Well Being Nurses have worked on developing greater awareness and empowerment for service users in the fields of harm minimisation, safer injecting, infection control and overdose training. Engagement with projects that work alongside Turning Point such as the Soup Kitchen in Pontefract and Castleford for the homeless, engaging with them and encouraging them to access treatment and mainstream health care.

Since the Team has been in existence for nearly two years there has been a significant increase in those engaging in, and accessing Hepatitis A + B vaccinations and Hepatitis screenings; which in turn has lead to 44 referrals to St James's Hospital for treatment, where previously there had been none. The team has also so far completed 429 clients Health Screenings for clients entering treatment where previously there had been no detailed nurse led general health screen offered this to clients.