Last updated 11:58, Saturday, 31 May 2008

A FURNESS nurse who has helped keep elderly patients out of hospital has been rewarded for her efforts.

NEW ERA: Paula Edge, clinical nurse manager at Risedale Nursing Home submitted picture

Clinical nurse manager Paula Edge has spearheaded a community matron scheme at Risedale Nursing Home.

The matrons, who are senior nurses employed by Risedale Estates Ltd, meet patients and assess their condition to see if hospital is the correct option.

Equipped with new skills to dispense complex drugs, they are ensuring patients are not admitted to hospital unnecessarily and freeing up beds for real emergencies.

The scheme could be expanded by the Department of Health following its success.

The efforts of Mrs Edge helped secure the coveted title of leader of the year at the Excellence in Cumbria Awards, which are a showcase for Cumbrian talent.

Director of nursing at Risedale Estates, Barbara Redshaw, said: “Paula has done a fantastic job in this role.

“Everybody sees leaders as brave, bold, almost loud people.

“Paula is so quiet. She’s gone in and changed the skill base of the nurses we’ve got so we can really offer advanced nursing practice.

“It really makes a difference to recruitment and retention of staff. Nurses now are coming to us and they will learn new skills. But the real thing she’s done is keep residents in their own homes and not in hospital.”

Not only are community matrons making a real difference to the NHS they are also improving quality of life for patients and their families.

Each matron has undertaken extra training to prescribe drugs intravenously to residents who would otherwise have stayed in hospital or be transferred out of the area.

The project, which is backed by Cumbria County Council and Cumbria Primary Care Trust, has been piloted at residential and nursing homes managed by the Risedale group.

The results from the pilot have seen a 46 per cent reduction in avoidable hospital admissions among older people receiving residential care.

Jill Stannard, Cumbria County Council’s director of Adult Social Care and Health, said: “The community matron scheme is improving the quality of life for older people with complex health needs. As well as providing a link between home and hospital, they are also providing older people and their families with information and advice.”