Caring around the clock

Each year more and more young people with disabilities rely on National Star for support.

Thanks to medical advances, more young people are living with increasingly complex and profound disabilities and our nursing team offers round–the–clock support, care and reassurance to students, residents and their families.

We employ 30 registered nurses who work closely with National Star’s GP Dr Jarvis and our therapy teams to ensure the health and wellbeing of students and residents in their care.

Many students who learn with us have serious respiratory issues, diabetes and epilepsy. These long–term health conditions need constant ongoing management.

Nurse Rhian Simmons, the nurse looking after 23 students living in three student residences, Manor Barns, Lakehouse and Ullenwood View, came to National Star two years ago from a children’s hospice.

Rhian’s day starts with a briefing from duty staff who tell her about any medical concerns they may have about students. She then visits students in their rooms to administer the medication they need to start their day.

‘I take time to get to know the students in my care to help them relax when I am administering medication. We chat about the things they are interested in, which can be a welcome distraction,’ said Rhian.

‘If a student has health concerns, they know they can talk to me. An unexplained rash or a sore on their leg can cause ongoing anxiety if a student has time to worry about it,’ she added.

We are grateful for the expertise that our nurses and other allied healthcare professionals bring to National Star.