Community Nursing Service - Livewell Southwest

Livewell Southwest provides community nursing services across Plymouth, South Hams & West Devon, working in close partnership with the people who use our services, their carers and loved ones and other parts of the health and social care system.

In particular, that means close working relationships with GPs and practice nurses, public health nurses and other allied healthcare professionals. Led by a district nurse team manager, each team includes district nurses, community sisters and charge nurses, long-term condition matrons, assistant practitioners, auxiliaries and phlebotomists.

Livewell Southwest links its district nursing teams to the locations of GP surgeries, and provides the service 365 days a year, both in and out-of-hours. Anyone can contact the service about a referral - whether the individuals themselves, their carers, neighbours or professionals - but it is only available to people aged 18 and over who are registered with a GP and are housebound.

The types of people who benefit most from community nursing services are those who are living with long-term health conditions that prevent them from leaving their home, or those who are unable to leave their home for shorter periods of time - such as during recovery from a medical procedure. It is also a valuable service for people who are unable to attend surgery due to clinical risks, for example people whose immune system has been weakened following chemotherapy.

People are discharged from the community nursing service - with appropriate signposting to support helplines - when their care has achieved the desired outcome, or they can safely self-manage their ongoing treatment.

Out of hours

The Out of hours district nursing service provides urgent nursing care within the community between the hours of 5pm - 8am, 365 days a year. Experienced community nurses and nursing auxiliaries work jointly throughout the out of hours shifts, and medical support is provided by the out of hours GP service within Devon Doctors. Follow-up referrals to services will be made by the visiting community nurse if required.

Is the information correct?

Let us know if the information on this page is wrong and needs to be updated.

Want to create a page on the Plymouth Online Directory?  Register for free and add a page - it only takes a few minutes.