Kimberley Scarlett and Louise Pedley, pictured are our new community matrons in the Calderdale area. They are joining a well-established team of eleven including:

Jenny Dyson; Sarah Howden, Beverley Jessop, Sheila Kalanovic, Mandy Kazmierski, Sheryl McGinn, Julie Norris, Victoria Smith and Louise Watson,

Kimberley qualified as a staff nurse at The University of Huddersfield, in September 2011. For her first 18 months of practice she worked on the acute stroke unit and gained many skills; such as dealing with acute emergencies. Kimberley wanted to help other students and become a mentor for student Nurses. Kimberley then moved into the community setting and joined a new team; the virtual ward. This involved developing a new service, working within the 5-year plan of ‘Care Closer to Home’ which is in place to encourage efforts to deliver healthcare out of hospitals, and provide better care for patients. They achieved this by reducing the number of unplanned  hospitals stays and reducing net costs.

At this point she knew her passion was with community nursing and joined a community nursing team; gaining skills in wound care, palliative and end of life care and teaching health promotion to patients and families. At this point Kimberley returned back to university and completed her Non- Medical prescribing. While in this post she realised she missed case-managing. This led her to apply for a development post within the community matron team in which she was successful.

Louise qualified as a staff nurse at the University of Bradford in September 2010, initially working as a staff nurse on an acute elderly medical ward at Bradford Royal infirmary. Her next post was a community staff nurse working in Bradford. During this post she started her Master’s degree, focusing on modules in palliative care. This led Louise to her next role as a palliative clinical nurse specialist in Calderdale community and subsequently a team leader role in the hospital specialist palliative care team for Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Trust. Whilst working in this role she completed her Non-medical prescribing qualification, enhancing her skills. Realising her heart remained in community nursing she applied for the community matron role and was successful!

What does the Community matron service offer?

Kimberley and Louise have joined the team of eleven community matrons in total covering the Calderdale area. The community matrons are senior nurses that act as case managers for patients with long-term conditions that often find themselves admitted as emergency cases to hospital because of a sudden deterioration. They work closely with GP’s and community nursing teams as well as integrating with the wider acute in-patient teams and social services.

We act as an advocate for our patients to ensure their views are heard, allowing them to feel in control when making decisions about their care.

What can our patients expect?

• An in-depth holistic assessment and individualised self- management plan. 
• Close monitoring and co-ordination of their care.
• Education and support on managing their own long term condition.
• Support to be independent.

Who is eligible for community matron?

• Patients with one or more long-term condition or complex range of conditions
• Patients who have unplanned hospital admissions or multiple contacts with other health and social care professionals.
• Frail patients with a Rockwood frailty score of 4 or above, needing advanced care planning and case management.

We receive our referrals from

• GPs
• Gateway to Care
• District Nursing Service
• Social workers
• Allied Healthcare Professionals
• Hospitals
• Relatives/carers