Charity nurse boosts families

A new nursing position that will improve care for youngsters with complex disabilities has been created thanks to a children’s charity.

After a major fundraising drive, Jackie Stewart has been employed full time as a Charlie House children’s community nurse.

Enough cash has been raised to fund the role for the next three years.

The post will provide families of disabled young people across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire with better care at home and in hospital.

Ms Stewart said: “I started in January.

“My role will be to care for children with complex needs and in need of palliative care in the community.

“If we can prevent children with complex needs from having to come into hospital unnecessarily, and all the risks that come along

“It’s handy having someone we can phone”

with that, then that’s great for families.”

Two siblings who will benefit from Ms Stewart’s services are Findlay and Iona James-Bruce – who both have the rare condition Trisomy 12q.

The pair rely on wheelchairs to get around, and have other physical disabilities.

Their mum Charlotte said that Ms Stewart’s services will make her family’s life a lot easier.

She said: “When families don’t have time to be chasing around different people, they can phone Jackie and she’ll be able to sort it out.

“It’s handy having someone that we know we can phone and care for the children as a whole, not just their individual problems.

“It will be really, really beneficial, we can’t thank Charlie House enough.”

To find out more, visit www.charliehouse.org.uk