Newham community matrons
In Newham, east London, our community matrons work with patients with long-term conditions like heart failure and diabetes to help them manage their care in their own homes. This improves the patients' quality of life and reduces the number of admissions to hospital.
The 2007 programme has undertaken an evaluation and this has revealed some outstanding results:
- The number of emergency hospital admissions reduced by 26% (with reductions of up to 40% by some of the more experienced Community Matrons)
- A&E attendances fell by 16%
- Non-routine contacts with primary care (GP visits, appointments with practice nurses, etc) fell by up to 57%.
In addition, GPs and patients were asked to complete satisfaction surveys and 100% of respondents said they were either satisfied or very satisfied with the service.
One GP commented that "for my practice they (Community Matrons) are added value quality care. Their greatest strength is being able to improve access to various services for the patient."
Patients' lives have been transformed, with many patients commenting on the peace of mind and reassurance that the service gives them. One patient said "Knowing that I'm being checked at regular intervals, puts my mind at rest, and the community matron can tell by just seeing me if anything is wrong, and I can talk to her with my concerns before anything gets too bad."
The programme has delivered on other government objectives including:
- Providing care closer to patient's homes
- Ensuring patients and their family/carers have more control over their own care
- Facilitating closer working between health and social care
- Providing better management information to ensure continuing improvement of services