Latoya Grindley, Gleaner Reporter

Nursing Superintendent at the Hyacinth Lightbourne Visiting Nursing Service, Alethea Plummer, has been in nursing services for 19 years and was last year appointed superintendent. - Photo by Latoya Grindley

For over 51 years, it has been fulfilling its objective of bringing professional nursing care to patients in the privacy of their homes. Located on Lady Musgrave Road in St Andrew, the Hyacinth Lightbourne Visiting Nursing Service was established in 1957 and was named in honour of Dr Hyacinth Lightbourne, a public health doctor who died tragically.

Nursing superintendent at the nursing establishment, Alethea Plummer, says the organisation currently operates in Kingston and St Andrew, Mandeville, Montego Bay and St Catherine. She notes that persons needing health care can make a request and an available registered nurse will be dispatched. "There is a charge associated with the visit; however, if an assessment is made and it is found out that the person definitely can't pay us, that is fine. However, we will take what they can give. We provide service from 'King's House' to an 'almshouse', to show that there is no discrimination." Patients can also be referred to the institution by doctors, family members and hospitals.

Any need

Plummer says visits normally entail blood pressure and sugar tests, dressing of wounds, giving the patient a bath, as well as any other needs of the patient. While it strives to carry out its objectives, the nursing superintendent says the service is hampered by many factors, especially the shortage of nurses due to remuneration. "That is a huge problem and because of this, we have some nurses stretching themselves thin in terms of trying to assist the number of patients. We would like some sessional nurses because most nurses are already employed full time, so to at least get them part time would be good."

She says these sessional nurses would not have a significant problem if they are employed elsewhere as they try not to visit patients beyond 1 o'clock.

Membership

A non-profit organisation, the service depends on annual membership fees as well as sponsorship and donations. Persons interested in becoming a member can register by filling out an application form.

"Anyone who wants to support this venture can become a member. They can have the option of personal membership as well as family membership." She, however, stresses that to access the services, non-members can benefit. "Anybody can benefit, in fact, some of our long-term patients are not even members of the organisation."

Now 51 years in operation, superintendent Plummer says the Hyacinth Lightbourne Visiting Nursing Service has been successful, having a high-patient recovery rate.

latoya.grindley@gleanerjm.com.