Information for Healthcare Professionals

Developing a service for children with a tracheostomy

Introduction to presentation on developing a service for children with a tracheostomy

Presented at the Royal College of Surgeons on October 30th 2006 at Paediatric Child and Health conference.  By Alison Flynn and Jan Rowlands

Tracheostomies have become increasingly both common place both within the acute hospital setting and the community. Historically the service provided for these children and families was that there was no formal structure to training and competency.  There was a culture around caring for a child with a tracheosotmy that sent everyone into a panic. There were only two ward areas that would nurse and admit these children. In some areas there were no children’s community nursing teams or teams who were tracheostomy trained.

A child with a tracheostomy constitutes an important challenging group needing a specialist tracheostomy service. So as the ENT Nurse Specialist when I came into post in 2003 after listening to colleagues I realised that we needed to improve the service for these children. So I formed the working group for tracheostomy care. This was greatly received by all health professionals who have helped developed, an essential forum in making and changing practice, from senior physio to community nurse to nurses within the trust. Together we have inspired a passion to develop a quality service for these children. Using our leadership skills we have utilised our expert power in this speciality by influencing and empowering staff, improving child and family liaison, by recognising the essential role played by the family as the constant in the child’s life and throughout the disease trajectory this has helped to improve the service. Through education via training days and competences in best practice and collaboration this has been our circle of influence in changing a culture in caring for these children. We had five fundamental aims

1. Inspire a shared vision.
2. Enabling others to act.
3. Challenging the process.
4. Modelling the way.
5. Encouraging the heart.

View the presentation

Abstract.

Alison Flynn
RGN RSCN Dip Child and Adult Health BA (Hons)
I have been a qualified nurse for 25 years working in both the adult and paediatric nursing. Always having a surgical focus to my career but now specialising in paediatric ENT as a nurse specialist. My role is varied running nurse led services, along with service improvement and liaison, for all children and their families with ENT health problems. Whilst also developing training, research and practice that is evidence based for all health professionals.

Jan Rowlands
RGN RSCN Dip in Child Health (ENB A50)
I am a Children’s Community Nursing Sister working with children within the home environment; effectively promoting early discharge and preventing re-admission to hospital. My role is to provide specialist nursing care and support to the child and family at home. I am involved in teaching and policy development within the trust. I am also near completion of the BSc Specialist Practitioner degree.