Award nurses pleased to change man's life

John Taylor with the nurses

AN OLDHAMER with ill health who has gone from living in unsuitable conditions to moving to new accommodation has thanked dedicated nurses for transforming his life.

John Taylor (65) was helped by the Oldham East District Nursing team, part of Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust, after being referred with serious leg ulcers.

When staff visited John's home in Chadderton they found he was socially isolated and his living conditions were inappropriate.

His home was in need of major repair works and was extremely cluttered.

The nurses visited John every day to dress the wounds on his legs and encouraged him to accept support from social services and Age UK Oldham.

John has now moved to a warden-controlled supported living flat and the ulcers on his legs have completely healed.

The team was recognised for going above and beyond the call of duty with a Principles of Care award from Pennine Care which recognises services that have gone above and beyond to provide excellent care.

Senior district nurse Gemma Rycroft said the difference made to John's life had been phenomenal.

She said: "As district nurses, we sometimes come across patients who are struggling with social issues such as housing, as well as their health.

"It's incredibly rewarding to be able to transform their lives by making sure they have access to the right support.

"John is now in much more appropriate accommodation and he's not isolated anymore.

"We're really pleased to have been able to support him and to have been recognised with an award for our care."

The team collected their award at the trust's Annual General Meeting where a short film about their work was screened.