Carys Brook is the nurse behind the In-Reach Self-Management Service at HRI, which is helping patients and families gain the skills and confidence they need to manage care more independently at home.
The service supports eligible inpatients to learn practical healthcare skills before discharge, helping them feel more confident, reducing reliance on community visits where appropriate, and supporting smoother transitions home.
Carys can provide training and support in a range of areas, including:
- Diabetes management, blood glucose monitoring and insulin administration
- Catheter care
- Eye drop administration
- Compression wraps and stockings
- LMWH injections
- Medication patches
- Simple wound care
- Enteral feeding tube maintenance and feed or medication administration
The service can support not only patients, but also family members and carers who may be willing and able to help manage aspects of care following discharge.
Supporting independence and flow
By starting education and training while patients are still in hospital, the service helps people develop the knowledge, skills and confidence they need to manage their condition safely at home.
In some cases, this can also help avoid delays in discharge. Rather than waiting for community services to pick up a referral, patients who are able to self-manage can often return home sooner and continue building their confidence in their own environment.
Carys, who has been a qualified nurse for almost 19 years and has worked within community nursing services for more than a decade, is passionate about helping people take an active role in their own care. She said: "I'm passionate about helping people feel confident and independent in managing their own care. Often patients are nervous at first, but once they have the knowledge and practical skills, you can see how proud they are of what they've achieved.
"This service benefits everyone. Patients feel empowered, families feel reassured, and people can get on with their lives without feeling tied to waiting for care visits wherever it is safe and appropriate to do so. It's incredibly rewarding to help people realise what they're capable of."