Parish Nurse
Our Parish Nurse, Tracey Ingram, writes:
I have over 20 years experience in nursing, much of my career spent as a practice nurse. Parish nursing gives me the opportunity to offer whole person healthcare, allowing me to combine my profession with my faith. It allows me to carry out preventative healthcare together with spiritual care, enabling me to offer prayer alongside practical help and advice. As a Parish Nurse I will be working with the Primary Care Trust, other health care providers and the St. Aidan’s Church leadership team.
You can contact Tracey on mobile 07518 803024, through St Aidans on 01482 704112, or by email
Mick Fryer, Vicar of St. Aidan’s Church says:
As part of The Church of England, St.Aidan’s Church has always looked for the best ways to serve the community, with a particular concern for body, mind and spirit.
Our Parish Nurse is a natural but new and exciting development of this ministry.
Health problems often cause people to freeze and avoid asking questions - the Parish Nurse can be the first port of call for those wanting a bit of help and advice.
What can a Parish Nurse do for you?
The role of a Parish Nurse is to integrate faith and health to help achieve wholeness of mind, body and spirit.
The Parish Nurse can offer the following :-
- Offer you prayer and discuss your spiritual needs.
- Give you personal health advice to help you improve your health.
- Check your blood pressure.
- Help you with weight management.
- Help you understand and manage chronic diseases e.g. diabetes, asthma, COPD.
- Give you support in times of need e.g. family illness, bereavement.
- Refer you to, and help you access, other agencies when needed.
- Accompany you to doctors / hospital appointments and help you understand what is happening and what might happen next.
The Parish Nurse also has a role in educating people in the local area on health matters:
- Educate people about alcohol, drugs, sexual health, stress management, healthy eating, exercise, general health care.
- Develop support / social groups as the need arises.
Who will St. Aidan’s Parish Nurse see?
- Any person who lives or works within the parish boundaries of St Aidan’s irrespective of their faith.
- Any member of the congregation of St Aidan’s parish church.
- Any relative of a member of St Aidan’s congregation who is at the time of the initial contact living at the same address as the congregation member.
- Staff and volunteers of St Aidan’s Church and Café.
Clinics
All clinics held at St Aidan’s Church
Monday 09:30—12:00
Tuesday 09:30—12:00
Wednesday 10:45—12:30
And at other times by appointment.
Activities
For further information, contact Tracey on 07518803024 or Dena Wood on 01482 704112
Healthy Eating & Weight Loss Support Group
Mondays 11.00am 12.30am
Recipes - advice- weigh in - personal plans - support - cooking tips.
Arts & Crafts Group
Mondays & Fridays 1.00pm to 3.00pm - £2.50 including drink & biscuit
Have fun, make friends & get crafty
We have card making, glass painting, toy making, painting, cross stitch, and more.
Afternoon Tea (over 55's)
1st Tuesday in the month 1.30pm tp 3.00pm - £1.00 includes tea/coffee, sandwiches and cake
Come and enjoy good company, quizzes. board games, music.
Get free health advice and blood pressure check.
Healthy Walks
Mondays at 9.15am- Suitable for all levels of fitness!
Meet people, and get fit. Please wear appropriate clothes and footwear
New walkers must register, so please arrive at 9.00am.
Keep Fit
Aerobic exercise, at beginner level from 7.15pm to 8.15pm
Where can you find more general information on Parish Nursing?
Churches of all denominations appointing registered nurses with community experience to promote whole person health care in their local communities, There are now about 30 Parish Nursing projects throughout the UK, employing nearly 40 nurses. St Aidan's Parish Nurse is affiliated to Parish Nursing Ministries UK .
A Parish Nurse is a Registered Nurse who works through the local church, offering spiritual as well as physical and mental care. Parish Nurses may be health educators, they may refer people to their GP or other appropriate agencies, train and co-ordinate volunteer activity, act as a person’s advocate through life events and health problems.