Home Visits for early supported discharge patients

[shropshire]

I am a respiratory nurse specalist in Cambridge & we do home visits the day after discharge & then as needed.
We normally tell someone we are going to visit the patient & then let them know we are back ( we do have a lone working policy) but my concern is I work until 6pm & by then most people have gone home so if I have told them I have gone they are not there to make sure I return back safe.

I wondered what other people do in this type of situation, both my work colleagues finish at 4pm so it is an issue for me mainly.

We have discussed today at my appraisal finishing all home visits by 4pm but there will always be the odd patient where this is not possible

I would be greatful for any help

[Jenny]

Hi, I have also had such conversations with my manager.
It was decided that if there were no people at work that I could contact to let them know that I had returned safely, then I was to telephone my husband or close relative before and after such a visit.

It is not an easy policy to deal with, particularly in small teams and in the future we may be working more unsocial hours. However I do feel that we need to be sensible about this and not let it get in the way of our work. We should all be risk assessing all our home visits beforehand and should try to keep most of them within normal working hours.

I would value others views on this.

Jenny

[karen]

Hi I do early supportive discharge in Hull and East Yorkshire, we have a lone worker policy and back up which is very good. We have constant support and monitoring from our Trust security system for all duration of duty, happy to share and give details of procedure.Just let me know.

Karen

[Jenny]

Yes please Karen if it is not too late and you see this late reply!