RDNS 2009 Annual Report - Royal District Nursing Service

evening5.33 pmMax arrives at a supported residence for adults with Down’s Syndrome.He enters as if one of the family and is greeted with a hearty “Hi Max!”from some of the residents. He is seeing Susan today. She has diabetesand his assistance is vital so that she properly manages her condition andcan live in this comfortable facility she calls home. As he completes hisvisit, the phone rings - again. It’s the CSC. The visit is cancelled – again.The son of a client had been a little confused about the medicines he wasto give his mother. He has now sorted it out. No need to come tonight.6.07 pmIt’s almost dusk and as dinners are prepared throughout the suburbs,the work of Max and his colleagues continues. Peter’s cat has enjoyeda fine day frolicking in the garden and has retired in the front of the fireas Max takes Peter through the routine he performed with Alison at thestart of the day. Once again, the task is precise and professional. Maxchecks Peter has enough of all his medications and is satisfied with hisblood-sugar readings. He moves into the fading rays of daylight withplenty of work still to do.6.31 pmPeggy answers her door and Max is greeted by the smell of toastedsandwiches. The chilly wind clutches at him as he makes his wayinto the warm house. Peggy is unusually quiet, Max observes, as heprepares her medications. Some are for dementia, some are for herdiabetes, but he senses something is not quite right. Max checks herblood sugar and the mystery is solved. Her blood sugar is very low andMax is concerned to raise it immediately. He locates some jelly beansand Peggy quickly eats them. He then sits with her as she nibblesher toasted sandwich. It takes some time, but Max is concernednot to leave her. As he waits for the food to take effect, he administersher medications and completes her client notes, making a point tosuggest that Peggy has a chat with her doctor about a couple of recentlow readings. Ten minutes later another blood reading is taken – 5.2.Max is satisfied and Peggy is already brighter. The sky however is not:the last of the sun’s rays have disappeared until morning.12|Royal District Nursing Service – Annual Report 2009