Grant mandatory basic tracheostomy care training for community nurses and carers
Grant mandatory basic tracheostomy care training for community nurses and carers
The Issue
A tracheostomy is a procedure that involves creating an opening at the front of the neck so that a tube can be inserted into the trachea (windpipe) to help a patient breathe. There are many reasons why a patient would need a tracheostomy including, Injury/accident, blockage in the throat which can be caused by swelling, tumor or an object in the throat. Around 15,000 patients in England and Wales have new tracheostomies each year and these patients need effective, knowledgeable care to keep them safe as tracheostomies can result in airway problems which can quickly become fatal, especially in critically ill patients. Currently in the UK, a vast majority of community carers and nurses do not have the skills or training to provide care for tracheostomy patients at home. This means that a large majority of tracheostomy patients in England are relying on their family and friends to provide their care on a daily basis, some tracheostomy patients may even require 24 hr care due to having other illnesses or disabilities which stops them from being able to take care of their tracheostomy themselves.
If more community carers were to receive basic tracheostomy training this would relieve alot of pressure and stress from tracheostomy patients and their families/friends especially for patients that may live alone or may not have any family/friends that are able to provide their care on a daily basis. If community nurses do not receive basic tracheostomy care training in the future, more families will be left struggling to provide efficient care for their loved ones.
It is incredibly important that tracheostomy care training is provided for community carers so that tracheostomy patients can receive efficient care and not have to rely on family/friends to provide this care for them. Tracheostomies are not as rare as many of you reading this may think and now is the time to educate carers on the importance of tracheostomy care and relieve the pressure off of patients (and family/friends of patients) having to deal with such a life changing procedure.
514
The Issue
A tracheostomy is a procedure that involves creating an opening at the front of the neck so that a tube can be inserted into the trachea (windpipe) to help a patient breathe. There are many reasons why a patient would need a tracheostomy including, Injury/accident, blockage in the throat which can be caused by swelling, tumor or an object in the throat. Around 15,000 patients in England and Wales have new tracheostomies each year and these patients need effective, knowledgeable care to keep them safe as tracheostomies can result in airway problems which can quickly become fatal, especially in critically ill patients. Currently in the UK, a vast majority of community carers and nurses do not have the skills or training to provide care for tracheostomy patients at home. This means that a large majority of tracheostomy patients in England are relying on their family and friends to provide their care on a daily basis, some tracheostomy patients may even require 24 hr care due to having other illnesses or disabilities which stops them from being able to take care of their tracheostomy themselves.
If more community carers were to receive basic tracheostomy training this would relieve alot of pressure and stress from tracheostomy patients and their families/friends especially for patients that may live alone or may not have any family/friends that are able to provide their care on a daily basis. If community nurses do not receive basic tracheostomy care training in the future, more families will be left struggling to provide efficient care for their loved ones.
It is incredibly important that tracheostomy care training is provided for community carers so that tracheostomy patients can receive efficient care and not have to rely on family/friends to provide this care for them. Tracheostomies are not as rare as many of you reading this may think and now is the time to educate carers on the importance of tracheostomy care and relieve the pressure off of patients (and family/friends of patients) having to deal with such a life changing procedure.
514
The Decision Makers
Petition created on 4 August 2023