Community Nursing Services
Looking after your home feeding tube requires support from experienced dietitians and nurses. At Tube Dietitian, we have the dietitian part covered. So anything related to formula selection, hydration, bowel habits, weight maintenance, and energy levels – we can support you with!
But what about tube care? stoma site care? PEG feeding tube replacements? You may have a specialist doctor that will continue to review your feeding tube once you are at home, or sometimes the hospital where you got your tube inserted may continue to follow you up. If that’s the case, that’s great.
But if not, do not fret! This is where our expert community nursing colleagues come in, there are several of them out there!
We contacted nursing services we regularly work with and tabulated what we think would be beneficial to know about them (see table below).
If you’re a busy hospital clinician, this table can help you map out the best possible nursing service route for your tube fed patient before they go home.
If you’re a dietitian in the community that sees people with feeding tubes, set yourself and your patient up for success by connecting them to a nursing service. Unless a dietitian is PEG credentialled, it is not in his / her scope of practice to manage the mechanics of the feeding tube. Let’s utilise the services available to optimise care for people with feeding tubes.
If you’re an NDIS coordinator or plan manager, set your client up for success and ensure they have sufficient funds to cover regular nursing services for feeding tube care. “Regular” can mean different frequencies for each patient but a general rule of thumb would be at least 20 hours in a year to be dedicated to nursing services inclusive of travel time.
If you are someone with a feeding tube and you aren’t currently linked in with a nursing service, ask your health care team to set you up with one.
Depending on the person with a feeding tubes needs, one of the below options can support their tube care solely or in conjunction with hospital and/or specialist supports.
Happy reading and home tube feeding,
Tube Dietitian.
-
Service details: stoma care yes, feeding tube trouble shooting within business hours, yes to pump/bolus training, no tube changes however do train on balloon volume checking. Must be on an Abbott enteral feed. Refer by calling +61 437 073 955 or email marissa.mcmanus@abbott.com. Available in VIC face to face and all other states via telehealth.
-
Service details: yes to stoma care and feeding tube trouble shooting issues, tube changes are done with a doctor referral. Independant of any formula. Available in VIC, NS, QLD, SA, and TAS. Refer via their website or by emailing on hello@boltonclark.com.au.
-
Service details: yes to stoma care and trouble shooting tube issues, pump/bolus training provided, available to adults and children, yes they do tube changes. Independant of any formula. Refer via their website or email on admin@cnqld.com.au. Available in QLD face to face and all other states via telehealth.
-
Service details: stoma care yes, tube assistance – yes to volume checks and routine changes with doctor referral. No after hours or emergency services available. Independant of any formula. Services NDIS, TAC, work-cover, L3 and 4 packaged care, with Case Manager approval. Check out their website here – https://easternstomacare.com.au/services. Refer by emailing easternstomacare@outlook.com. Available in VIC Eastern / Outer Eastern suburbs.
-
Service details: stoma care, tube care, balloon volume checks, enteral feeding training for carers. Independant of any formula. Refer on their website: https://www.empowerhealthcare.com.au/referral-form/
-
Service details: yes to stoma care, tube troubleshooting from 9am-9pm (weekdays) and 9am-5pm on weekends and public holidays, yes to bolus/pump training, do not change tubes. Independent of any formula. Refer by calling 1300 705 029. Available in SA, VIC, WA.
-
Service details: stoma care, 24/7 feeding tube trouble shooting, pump/bolus training, no tube changes. Available in VIC, NSW, and QLD. Independant of any formula. Refer by calling 1300 500 247. Website: https://www.nursenextdoor.com.au/
-
Service details: stoma care, troubleshooting support weekdays 7am-9pm and weekend/public holidays 9am-5pm AEST, yes to pump/bolus training, they do tube changes with a written referral from the doctor. Must be on a Nutricia enteral feed. Refer by emailing on nurseconnect@nutricia.com. Available in VIC, NSW, QLD, SA and TAS.
-
Service details: yes to stoma care, provide phone trouble shooting support 7am-8pm EST and have an oncall message bank service 8pm-7am, for adults only. Must be on a Nestle enteral feed or using Cardinal Health feeding equipment. Refer by calling 1300 824 663 or info@regalhealth.com.au. Available in all states.
