Health care in the home

Rebecca Lollback

09May08

Community Nurse Maureen York tends to patient Maurice Doolan. Picture: JUSTIN BRIERTY

MAURICE Doolan has been in a wheelchair for more than 20 years and still needs home health care every two days.

But the 59-year-old knows he can count on Maureen York and the dedicated team at the Flynn Drive Community Health Clinic.

Ms York has been looking after Mr Doolan since he became a quadriplegic after a car accident in the late 1980s.

Monday is International Nurses Day, a time to recognise the efforts of hard-working nurses.

Community nurses often become an important part of their patients' lives and the strong bond between Ms York and Mr Doolan is just one example. But the nurses also see some ``terrible things and some very sad things''.

Ms York said: ``When you have been caring for someone on and off for years and they pass away, you feel the family's pain. Without warning, you find find yourself crying.

``You had a role to play in their daily routine and you finally realise that you had become part of their life story.''

Flynn Drive Community Health Clinic staff see about 600 clients a month.

They care for wounds, administer antibiotics, give medicines and look after palliative care patients.