Staff Appreciation Post: Val Sandston

Our incredibly skilled Community Nursing team at the Laura Fergusson Brain Injury Trust is led by Val Sandston, our Community Nursing Manager.

Val has over forty years’ experience as a Registered Nurse. After starting her career as an Enrolled Nurse, she entered further education to improve her skills, and has spent the majority of her Nursing

career working in Spinal Injury and District Nursing. Val also has a postgraduate certificate in wound management and is passionate about working in this area.

“I believe one of my key attributes is my communication which I feel is open and honest,” says Val. “I have a good sense of humour which can be beneficial in different situations.”

A usual day for Val and our nursing team involves seeing our group of regular clients in the morning, and then undertaking assessments for clients with specific needs in the afternoon.

We may see people for wound care, pressure injuries, bladder and bowel management, for continence products and other consumables.

The Community Nursing Team travel in the Christchurch and wider Canterbury region seeing ACC clients, mainly with traumatic brain injury or spinal cord injury, in their homes.

“I enjoy the collaboration in working at LFBIT - collaboration with outside agencies. our own large interdisciplinary team and our small nursing team. I enjoy the autonomy of the role, being able to supervise my nurses and support them in their work.”

“We pride ourselves on being timely, efficient and professional.”

Take away message from Val & our Community Nursing Services:

· We travel in the Canterbury Region

· We see people at home

· We are timely and can respond quickly

· If covered by ACC there is no cost

· Referrals can come from your GP, specialist or self referral