Acute Demand service impresses patient
David Morgan
When David Morgan's lacerated elbow became infected after a 2.5-metre fall onto a concrete floor, he received care and treatment from the Acute Demand service rather than needing to go to hospital.
The North Canterbury man was at the building site of his new home when the ladder he was climbing slipped and sent him tumbling to the ground.
Not wanting to make a fuss of his injuries - a wounded elbow, damaged achilles tendon and bruised head - David slapped on some bandages and soldiered on.
A week later, the gash on his elbow had become inflamed and painful. "Every time I'd turn over in bed I was crying out in pain."
With encouragement from his wife, David went to the 24 Hour Surgery, where he was given oral antibiotics for the infection and had an X-ray taken of his injured foot. But 36 hours later, his elbow wound had worsened.
David returned to the 24 Hour Surgery and was given IV antibiotics for what doctors told him was now a cellulitis infection. He then visited the Acute Demand Community Nursing service in their clinic rooms, which are based at the 24 Hour Surgery, every day for five days to receive more IV antibiotics.
"I can't fault the service. They were absolutely wonderful. They kept me fully informed. Before they did anything they explained what they were going to do and they asked me how I was feeling. They were on time as well," David says.
David is one of 2829 people who this year were treated by the Acute Demand Community Nursing service, which manages complex medical issues in a community setting. The team, supported by a Medical Director and Senior Medical Officer, observes and treats conditions such as skin infections, rehydration, asthma, pneumonia, Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT), Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and heart failure.