Tracheostomy nursing service: a guide for patients, families and carers

Our philosophy

We are committed to the delivery and improvement of a coordinated and standardised specialist nursing service for our patients and those who care for them.

About tracheostomy

A tracheostomy is an opening (called a stoma) through the front of your neck and into your trachea (windpipe). A curved plastic or silver tube (called a tracheostomy tube) is placed through the opening and into the trachea. The tracheostomy tube will help you breath. The external parts of the tube remain outside of the opening and are held in place with tapes around your neck.

You have needed a tracheostomy during your admission to hospital. Your medical team will be able to explain why you need a tracheostomy as part of your treatment plan. The tracheostomy tube may be temporary and could be removed before you are discharged. However, your individual needs may need a long term or even permanent tube and you may continue to need your tracheostomy after you have left the hospital.

What is the tracheostomy nursing service?

We are a nursing service dedicated to all adult patients within Addenbrooke’s Hospital and the Cambridge area, who have a tracheostomy. We predominantly visit patients whilst they are in-patients at Cambridge University Hospital, however we also run an out-patient clinical and where appropriate will visit Cambridge patients in their own home or care setting.

What our service can offer you

We can provide support to patients, their families and carers. This includes:

• Specialist nursing service for clinical issues and management of your tracheostomy.
• A point of contact and resource during your hospital stay and after you are discharged.
• Working with the wider tracheostomy team (medical staff, physiotherapists and speech and language therapists) to deliver the most appropriate treatment plan for you.
• Responding to any clinical changes and helping manage problems which may occur.
• Ensuring you to have the most suitable tracheostomy tube and accessories for your individual requirements.
• Coordinating tracheostomy tube changes.
• Training and educating you, your family and carers with the skills needed to manage your tracheostomy independently.
• Assisting in the discharge planning process to ensure you are safe and supported.
• Providing recommendations and suggestions to promote your quality of life with your tracheostomy.
• Providing continuing care following your discharge to ensure your ongoing and changing tracheostomy needs are met.

How to contact us

Monday to Friday 08:00 to 17:00,

To leave a message telephone 01223 348679

• Claudia Russell, Tracheostomy Nurse Consultant
• Claire Scase and Janine Bardos, Tracheostomy Clinical Nurse Specialists
• Deseena Dennis and Tilly Plant, Tracheostomy Support Nurses
• Tracheostomy Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)

Email: tracheostomynurses@nhs.net

Box 48, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 0QQ