Gastroenterology - Role of the Upper GI Specialist Nurse and Key Worker

Name of Key Worker:

Name of Associate Key Workers:

The Upper GI Specialist Nurse is an experienced nurse who specialises in the care and support of people with disorders that affect the stomach, and gullet. These are the organs of the upper part of the gut.

The nurse works closely with the medical team and provides links with other healthcare professionals, both in the hospital and in the community to help provide continuity of care.

The Specialist Nurse is based in the hospital, mainly on the surgical wards. They work alongside both nursing and medical staff. You will also see them in the Outpatient Department and the Endoscopy Unit. They are available to see patients before during and after cancer diagnosis, investigations and treatment.

What does the Service provide?

The specialist Nurse is available to any patients undergoing any investigations, surgery and treatments for Upper GI Cancer.

The service offers:

• Information about Upper GI cancer, staging investigations, surgery and other treatments
• Assessment of patients and appropriate referral to other healthcare professionals
• Time to discuss problems, investigations and treatments
• Information about other supportive organisations
• Ongoing advice and support for patients, their families and carers
• Support Group

What is a key worker?

This coordinating role is central to the patients’ journey in providing information, support and guidance to patients, relatives and carers.

What do they do?

Your key worker will work with you in the following ways:

• They will be your central point of contact
• They will assess your needs and ensure that you receive the care you need and that you are involved in decisions about your care as much as possible
• They will ensure that you are referred to and receive different services as needed

Who will be your key worker?

In most cases it will be one of the Specialist Nurses. Sometimes there may not be a Specialist Nurse available in this situation another healthcare professional will be your key worker, these include:

• Ward Nurses
• Consultant
• GP
• Palliative Care Nurses
• Social Worker
• District Nurse

If you are at home or have finished your initial treatment your GP will be your first point of contact and may allocate someone from the community team to be your Key Worker.

How do I contact the Upper GI Specialist Nursing Team?

If you are in hospital, ask a nurse or doctor to contact the team. If you are at home, you can contact:

Upper GI Nursing Team - 0161 206 5062
Normal working hours are Monday to Friday - 7.30am to 5.30pm

If you need help or advice at other times, you can contact:
•    GP
•    Emergency Department

Other useful numbers

Upper GI Surgical Secretaries
Telephone:
0161 206 5472
0161 206 5744
0161 206 5128
0161 206 0449

MacMillan Cancer Support Centre
Telephone: 0161 206 1455

Oesophagaeal Patients Association
Telephone: 0121 704 9860

Support Group

Salford Upper GI cancer service has an established patient support group.

The group is an open forum giving patients space and time to explore and share the individual issues with others in a similar situation. The group also offers support for relatives and carers.

The meetings are divided into two parts, the first hour consisting of structured information, education and support programmes and the second hour an open forum offering the opportunity for members to explore and share individual experiences.

The group is facilitated by the Clinical Nurse Specialists who are qualified counsellors and have completed advanced communication skills training.

Held in the Mayo Building, Salford Royal Hospital, Stott Lane, Salford, M6 8HD

Date of next meeting:

Please contact upper GI specialists for further information.

Further information

For further information on our services, using the camera on your phone, please scan the QR code below. This will take you to the Upper GI webpage which includes patient information leaflets, useful contact numbers, support group information, team newsletter and much more.