URINARY TRACT MANAGEMENT URINARY TRACT MANAGEMENT page 16 page 17 How many times have you and your colleagues been… a) Called upon to re-site Nephrostomy drains which have been pulled out due to a leg bag slipping down a patient's leg? Perhaps the bag was designed to be attached to a urethral catheter or perhaps even used for bile drainage in a hospital? b) Asked to supply hospital bags for Nephrostomy patients who have already been discharged back into the community? NephSys solves both of these problems, it was designed with input from Radiology/Urology healthcare professionals and patients. This secure waist belt system is available in hospitals through the NHS PASA catalogue and on FP10 script in the community and is suitable for patients with single or bi-lateral Nephrostomies. The system components are an elasticated waist belt, two drainage bag suspenders that can be sited anywhere on the waist belt and sterile drainage bags with luer lock connections on the end of the inlet tube to connect directly to the Nephrostomy drain. The drainage bag outlet taps will also connect to all UK 2.0L night drainage bags using the supplied connector. Perhaps the most effective way to illustrate the value of the NephSys system is to hear from heathcare professionals and patients who have had direct experience of using the product. There follows 3 testimonials; the first from a hospital based specialist nurse, the second from a community based specialist nurse and finally and most significantly from the lady who is pictured in this article. The NephSys has changed her life so dramatically that she very kindly agreed to share her experiences and allow us to photograph her for the benefit of others in a similar situation. In her own words “if I can save even one person from the 'trauma, trials and tribulations' I have been through over the years with my Nephrostomies I will be happy”. From a hospital based Urology Nurse Practitioner To Whom It May Concern: I am writing this testimonial regarding the NephSys Nephrostomy drainage system, manufactured by Manfred Sauer UK Ltd. I have found that it has overcome many problems encountered during the course of my work with patients who have a Nephrostomy. Many of these patients have a poor prognosis or terrible symptoms and are understandably anxious when they initially have a Nephrostomy drain inserted as well as worried about what the future has in store for them upon discharge from hospital. The NephSys system has helped to reduce much of this anxiety. Patients say they find the system both comfortable and convenient. It is easily obtained and comes with clear user instructions. District Nurses locally have found the system easier to manage and have commented that it is much better than previous systems used, partly because of the simplicity of the design and that it is so readily available in the community. Prior to using the NephSys system locally there were frequent problems with products being unavailable on FP10 prescription in the community. This caused problems in the long-term management of patients who may not have their drainage bag changed frequently enough. Bags which past their recommended usage date could potentially lead to infection and cause anything from hospitalisation to mortality, all at significant cost to patients and the NHS. In Chester we used to supply community Nephrostomy patients from the local DGH, an added cost to the hospitals already overstretched budget. But the cost did not stop there, often radiologists and senior nurses spent a lot of time obtaining bags, arranging delivery and counselling anxious patients who had run out of supplies. In addition when patients return to their lives at home they are much more active compared to their stay in hospital and poorly secured bags often resulted in the accidental removal of the Nephrostomy catheter. All we used to be able to offer was a bile bag and several connectors often secured to clothing using a safety pin, causing potential for introducing infection, but there was no appropriate alternative at the time. Replacing Nephrostomies is a traumatic and time consuming ordeal for patients and an expensive for the NHS, it is an invasive procedure under x-ray guidance by interventional radiologists or urologists who have other pressing work to be doing. This causes additional strain on an already stretched service in the Radiology Department which all adds to waiting times and poor patient satisfaction. Patients require a reliable system that meets their needs. The Manfred Sauer NephSys system is easily obtainable in the hospital through the NHS PASA catalogue and on FP10 prescription in the community, providing a seamless service to both the healthcare professional and patient. As these patients often have cancers or difficult pregnancies it is one less thing to concern them. Locally, NephSys has afforded better outcomes for these groups of patients and I would recommend its use to any patient or healthcare professional. Yours Sincerely, Clare Hanson, Urology Nurse Practitioner. About the author: Clare has worked at The Countess of Chester Foundation NHS Trust for 4 years, working as a Urology Nurse Practitioner for the last 2 years and previously on 2 acute urology wards. She describes part of her role is to support patients and their families with urological conditions. She writes about her job: “I also teach other health care professionals about urological issues. District nurses often contact my department with problems they encounter in the community. One such problem used to be the availability of Nephrostomy drainage systems on FP10 and patient information about how to manage them. This prompted my enquiries into available systems for patients and has led to a good working relationship with the guys at Manfred Sauer who have been very helpful with supporting the changes in practice locally and have contributed to teaching nurses locally about their products at study days we have held. They also helped with initial teething problems in the community, with pharmacies, answering any information regarding prescriptions and availability” From a community based Specialist Nurse: As a nurse working in the community and specialising in the areas of continence and urology I have found the NephSys product invaluable. Before it was available on FP10 prescription, any patient undergoing surgery resulting in either single or bilateral Nephrostomy tubes had no access to sterile, compatible products once they were discharged home. They often had to 'make do' with items such as a urostomy pouch in which to sit the Nephrostomy tube and drain urine. This is far from satisfactory as such items are non-sterile and with tubes coming directly from the kidney this particular group of patients are extremely susceptible to infection and often have a significantly reduced life expectancy. For this reason alone a purposely made product such as NephSys is essential to provide the best possible care for this user group. It also makes sense that the product the patient is fitted with in hospital can be obtained in the community to provide continuity of care. A Secure & Comfortable solution for Nephrostomy patients from hospital to home! 50767-Urinary Tract Management 9/8/05 11:41 am Page 16