Going Home

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=200 BGCOLOR="#FFCC80" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="1088e8e3.jpg"> <div> <IMG SRC="10995810.png" border=0 width="149" height="129" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" BGCOLOR="#FF9900" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="10e00c82dwnjbj.jpg"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>TSNI</B></FONT> <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#3366FF" FACE="Arial" > </FONT>   |     <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#CC0000" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="TSNI"><U>home</U></A></FONT></div> <div> <A HREF="id18.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="About Us"><U>About Us</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id20.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Childrens Profiles"><U>Childrens Profiles</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id17.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="About Tracheostomy"><U>About Tracheostomy</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id57.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Subglottic Stenosis"><U>Subglottic Stenosis</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id59.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Passy Muir"><U>Passy Muir</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id60.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Safety Precautions"><U>Safety Precautions</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id43.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Decanulation"><U>Decanulation</U></A>   |   Going Home   |   <A HREF="id58.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Help at home"><U>Help at home</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id49.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The First Week"><U>The First Week</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id51.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="EMERGENCY"><U>EMERGENCY</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id52.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Makaton"><U>Makaton</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id54.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Premi Page"><U>Premi Page</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id55.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="MRSA "><U>MRSA </U></A>   |   <A HREF="id61.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="QA"><U>Q&A</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id19.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Events"><U>Events</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id38.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="TSNI Forum"><U>TSNI Forum</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id25.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Live Chat"><U>Live Chat</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id47.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Useful Links Contacts"><U>Useful Links & Contacts</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id48.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Glossary"><U>Glossary</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id26.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Contact Us"><U>Contact Us</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id56.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Acknowledgements"><U>Acknowledgements</U></A></div> <div> Going Home</div> <bR> <div> When your child is ready to leave hospital, a letter will be sent to your GP. The tracheostomy nurse specialist/ward staff will contact your health visitor and a community paediatric nurse <I>(if there is one in your area) </I>so that support is available for you when you get home. You will also see the ward social worker to discuss any help you might need, including help with housing, benefits or respite care.</div> <bR> <div> Sometimes plans for going home are made once your child has been transferred back to your local hospital. In all cases, the social worker will meet you to discuss what help is needed.</div> <bR> <div> The following things should have been discussed before you go home:</div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Equipment and supplies</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Housing</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Telephone </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Power cuts</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Financial help</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Help at home and respite care - <B>Very important</B></div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Getting out and about </div> <bR> <div> Going home will feel like a huge step; you may feel eager to get back to a more normal environment but be frightened and nervous at the thought of coping by yourself. This is quite a common feeling amongst families going home with their child and his or her tracheostomy. Your community nursing team i.e. the health visitor, home care team or community paediatric nurses will be available to support you when you are at home.  Let them know how you are feeling and how you feel about the service you are receiving.</div> <bR> <div> Try to remember that all the staff are there to help you. They have a great deal of experience and are happy to answer your queries and help you with your child’s care. Working in partnership with the family, we will aim to provide the best and safest care for your child, both here and at home.</div> <bR> <div> A list of recommended equipment and supplies will be sent to your health visitor or community paediatric nurse. The first two weeks’ supply will be provided by the Hospital but after that supplies will come from your local health authority. Always ensure that you have at least two weeks worth of supplies at home.</div> <bR> <div> You will need:</div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="382" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER HEIGHT= 173 WIDTH="191"><div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">suction catheters;</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">suction tubing;</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">round-ended scissors;</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">tracheostomy tubes;</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">tracheostomy tapes;</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">saline;</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=CENTER WIDTH="184"><div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">gauze;</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">2ml syringes;</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">water-based lubricant (if required);</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">heat and moisture exchanger (HME).</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> The hospital does not advocate re-use of tracheostomy tubes (unless advised) or suction catheters.</div> <bR> <div> When you go home you will need at least 2 suction pumps:</div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Mains electric pump (for use in the house);</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Laerdal or Vacu-aide (rechargeable, portable pump for use when out and about);</div> <div> <B><U>or</U></B></div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Ambu Hand/Foot pump (for emergency use only - especially in small babies);(or equivalent makes).</div> <bR> <div> The mains suction pump that is used on a day-to-day basis in the home. It requires mains electricity. The collection jar must be cleaned and the suction tubing changed every day. The filter should be changed monthly or earlier if it becomes discoloured. The suction rate will have been set before you go home and this should not be altered.</div> <bR> <div> The Laerdal is a portable suction unit which comes with a transformer that enables you to recharge the unit. It can also be run off the mains. It takes 36 hours to recharge fully and it should always be left on charge when not in use. Suction should never be attempted when the unit is being recharged. The collection jar and suction tubing are easy to remove and should be cleaned daily.</div> <bR> <div> A Vacu-aide is a lightweight portable suction unit which comes in its own carrying case with a power cord and battery charger with warning light to indicate when it needs recharging. It takes 24 hours to recharge the pump fully and it may be used when on charge. The collection jar and suction tubing can easily be removed for daily cleaning.</div> <bR> <div> An Ambu Hand/Foot pump does not require electricity and should only be used when all other suction units are out of action. It is easy to operate by placing your hand/foot on the pad and moving it up and down and can be very effective if used correctly. The collection jar and suction tubing should be cleaned after every use. Always keep your hand/foot pump in a readily accessible place.</div> <bR> <div> You will be shown how to use all your equipment before your child goes home but if you have any problems with any of the machines please contact your health visitor or community paediatric nurse.</div> <bR> <div> Equipment should be cleaned with a mild detergent in warm water and rinsed and dried thoroughly. All suction pumps should be checked and serviced at least once a year.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>