HEALTH chiefs in north Durham have launched a twilight and overnight district nursing service, aimed at boosting the independence of patients.

Bosses at the Durham and Chester-le-Street Primary Care Trust say the service, which provides holistic nursing, has a key role to play in the development of services in the area.

The trust's out-of-hours primary care manager, Bernice Molloy, said: "The aim of the team is to provide a high-quality, culturally-sensitive and dignified service, offering advice and support to patients, families and carers in their own homes or community setting.

"The team work closely with the daytime district nursing service and accept any referrals made by them to encourage continuity of care."

As well as providing cover for planned periods of nursing care, the service will also be able to respond to nursing emergencies.

It accepts referrals from a variety of specialists, including out-of-hours hospital wards, accident and emergency departments and many other teams.

The nurses are based in the GP out-of-hours department at the University Hospital of North Durham.

The service is available daily, between 5pm and 8.30am.

It can help and advise with palliative care, pain and symptom control, nausea and vomiting, restlessness, cath-eter problems, bowel problems, wound care and dressings, intravenous drugs and gastronomy tubes.

The nurses are also available to give advice and support to patients suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, helping and encouraging the reduction of admissions and re-admissions to hospital.

Ms Molloy said: "This is an excellent service to offer patients for the continuation of care and it is reassuring to patients that they have easy access to the nursing team for advice and support."

To contact the service, ring the switchboard at the University Hospital of North Durham on 0191-333 2333. A nurse from the service will then call back.