Assessment and Rehabilitation Service (ARU)

Assessment and Rehabilitation Unit (ARU), at St Peter’s Hospital, Maldon – Nursing Interventions and Warfarin Management

Overview

The Nurse Led Interventions clinic, currently called the Assessment Rehabilitation Unit (ARU), which is delivered by Provide Health, is based at St Peters Hospital in Maldon.

The service is designed to offer specialised, convenient appointments for patients who are able to attend a clinic environment, requiring Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter (PICC) line care. This may include dressing, flushes, bloods via the line, chemo disconnecting, PICC line removals, nephrostomy care, pleural and abdominal drains care, Radiologically Inserted Gastrostomy (RIG) balloon changes, intravenous methylprednisolone infusions, and warfarin management.

Who Can Access This Service?

Eligibility Criteria

• Adults aged 18 and over.
• Registered with a General Practitioner (GP) in the Mid Essex NHS area.

Exclusions

• Patients unstable on Warfarin.
• Acutely unwell patients.

Our Services

Nurse Led interventions:

• PICC line care dressing and flushes usually required every 7-10 days
• Bloods taken via PICC line when venepuncture is not appropriate or possible
• Disconnecting chemotherapy bottles
• PICC line removals when low risk
• Nephrostomy care dressing and bag changes
• Pleural and Abdominal drains care depending on type and need
• RIG balloon changes
• Intravenous infusions of methylprednisolone daily for 3 days, usually administered within 2 weeks of referral, and when taken orally is not effective
  
  

Warfarin Clinic:

• Our skilled nurses manage a comprehensive one-stop warfarin clinic at St Peter’s Hospital, in Maldon
• Utilising quick finger-prick (point of care) INR blood tests, we provide immediate results and dosage adjustments during your visit supported by INR Star
• Typical appointments last about 10-15 minutes, with initial consultations with the clinical lead taking approximately 45 minutes
• We strive to schedule your appointment within a week of referral

Service Location

Location:
St Peter’s Hospital, Maldon, ARU Building, Spital Road, Maldon, CM9 6EG

Operating hours:
Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 3:30pm.

Closed on bank holidays and weekends.

Warfarin Clinic operating hours:
Tuesdays and Fridays 8:40am to 2pm

Referral Process

Referrals can be made by any healthcare professional, including your GP or a hospital specialist, using our referral form.  Some clinical information is required to ensure the safety of patients’ care is maintained.