Northern Sydney Home Nursing Service (NSHNS)
Northern Sydney Home Nursing Service (NSHNS) focuses on the promotion of health and prevention of illness through community-based nursing care to people both within their homes and in clinic environments throughout Northern Sydney. The services provided include:
- General nursing care e.g. comprehensive assessment, wound management, help with medication, pain management, etc.
- Support to the aged and or disabled or those with a chronic illness
- Counselling, support and palliative care to terminally ill people and their families/carers
- Chronic disease management support.
The service is staffed predominately by registered nurses but also includes endorsed enrolled nurses, social worker and administrative staff.
Patients can be referred to the service for the provision of nursing in a number of ways including:
- General practitioners
- Hospitals – public and private facilities
- Community services or other health care providers
- Family member or friend
- Patients themselves
Referral care may be made by phoning the NSLHD health contact centre on 1300 732 503.
Referrals are assessed by the nursing unit manager of each centre to ensure they are appropriate and that patient and staff safety has been considered.
Northern Sydney Home Nursing Service require that all patients have medical supervision from either a medical practitioner or a hospital, and the patient will be asked to provide consent for the service to contact the GP and other relevant service providers when necessary.
Patients will be visited by a registered nurse, and their needs for care will be discussed with the patient, family or carers. Once various options and choices have been explained to the patient, a care plan is developed and agreed upon.
The service is funded by Commonwealth and State Governments and provided free of charge regardless of the length and frequency of visits. The service does receive some payment for people whose care may be covered by insurance including the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) or eligible veterans.
Where nursing is funding within packages of care (Home Care Packages) the package provider is charged for nursing care provided.
In order to ensure our staff's safety there may be times when certain equipment is needed to deliver care or the type of care delivery may need to be negotiated with the patient.
Northern Sydney Home Nursing Service operates 7 days a week from 8.00am to 4.30pm, with limited evening service.
The nearest centre can be contacted between 8.00am and 4.30pm Monday to Friday, or via NSLHD Health Contact Centre on 1300 732 503 on weekends (8.00am to 4.00pm).
There are seven community nursing centres throughout Northern Sydney based at Mona Vale, Brookvale, Hornsby, Royal North Shore and Macquarie Hospitals.
