District nursing — South Canterbury

To contact the District Nursing Service at Timaru Hospital:

• phone: 03 687 2310
• fax: 03 687 2309

The District Nursing Service is at:

Community Health Hub
Talbot Park
156 Otipua Road
Timaru

District nurses work across the following areas:

• Timaru
• Geraldine
• Temuka
• Waimate
• Fairlie
• Twizel.

We provide:

• specialist skills to assess and treat you if you have had a medical event or surgical procedure — helping you maintain and regain your health and functioning 
• care and support at end the of life.

Our services include:

• a nurse-led wound assessment clinic for ulcer assessments (with ultrasound imaging) and ongoing treatment
• wound care management — we provide ongoing assessment and treatments for complex wounds
• compression bandaging
• complex medication administration
• intravenous therapy, administered at home or in our afternoon clinic
• a dedicated afternoon clinic for treatments, if you can attend
• catheters — we provide regular catheter changes, supplies and support
• oxygen therapy — we set up oxygen machines, make regular reviews and manage your supplies
• ongoing health condition education to you and your carers
• education and training to other health professionals.

Palliative care (end of life care)

As part of palliative care, district nurses:

• assess new patients
• provide ongoing support
• liaise with the hospice
• make referrals to other health providers
• set up equipment in the home
• set up of syringe drivers for symptom management and end of life care
• support patients in rural and outlying areas. 

Palliative care in South Canterbury (internal link)

Stomal therapy services

As part of stomal therapy services, district nurses:

• manage stomas in the community
• manage ongoing medical supplies
• educate patients and health professionals
• run regular assessment clinics
• provide support for patients in rural and outlying areas.

Services are provided before and after surgical procedures.

Continence services

As part of continence services, district nurses:

• assess need for continence products
• manage continence issues
• manage catheters
• give ongoing support and manage medical supplies
• provide support for patients in rural and outlying areas.

Post care support services

After being discharged from hospital care, district nurses can assess you and put you in touch with services that support your independence, such as for:

• personal cares — assessments for showering and ongoing personal hygiene care
• Meals on Wheels — assessment for and arranging Meals on Wheels
• domestic assistance — assessment for and help arranging home help.

Meal on Wheels (internal link)

Referrals to the District Nursing Service can be made by your healthcare provider, hospitals and primary healthcare services.