A DRIVE is under way in Huddersfield to keep youngsters out of hospital by offering them more support at home.
A team of community paediatric nurses works with families across the town to help parents care for their children at home.
The scheme, run by Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Trust, offers families support to help children leave hospital earlier and manage their illnesses at home.
From blood testing and training families to use inhalers, to removing stitches and helping parents manage long-term conditions, the service avoids families having to return to hospital and allows children to access care in a familiar setting.
The team also visits nurseries and schools to train staff to deal with their young patients' conditions.
Adele Thomas, co-ordinator of the children's community nursing team, said: "We want to facilitate as early a discharge as possible.
"We enable children to go home and involve the minimum number of people in their care.
"Part of it is making parents feel independent by learning how to care for their child.
"It is about giving them confidence to feel they can manage."
She said the service had helped reduce the number of children who had to be re-admitted to hospital.
The move coincides with a major review of healthcare being carried across Calderdale and Huddersfield at the moment to reshape services.
Children's services are one of the key areas being reconsidered to make sure patients' needs are met.
Families using services were asked to give their views earlier this year.
Proposals are now being drawn up and a public consultation will be launched next week.
Jo Bibby, director of the review project, said: "Families were keen to have that support to look after their children as far as they can themselves.
"They also wanted an ongoing relationship with a health professional who knows their child's condition with easy access to advice."
Helena Corder, director of corporate services and nursing for Huddersfield's primary care trusts, who was also involved in the review, said: "Everyone realises the best place for children is at home with their families."
