Our philosophy
‘We are committed to the delivery and improvement of a coordinated and standardised specialist nursing service for our patients and those who care for them.’
What is a tracheostomy?
A tracheostomy is an opening (called a stoma) through the front of your neck and into your trachea (windpipe). A curved plastic or silver tube (called a tracheostomy tube) is placed through the opening and into the trachea. The tracheostomy tube will help you breath. The external parts of the tube remain outside of the opening and are held in place with tapes around your neck.
Your tracheostomy
You have needed a tracheostomy during your admission to hospital. Your medical team will be able to explain why you need a tracheostomy as part of your treatment plan. The tracheostomy tube may be temporary and could be removed before you are discharged. However, your individual needs may need a long term or even permanent tube and you may continue to need your tracheostomy after you have left the hospital.
What is tracheostomy nursing service?
We are a nursing service dedicated to all patients within Addenbrooke’s Hospital and the Cambridge area, who have a tracheostomy. We have a responsibility to adults, children and premature babies:
- based within the hospital
- in continuing care
- or at home
What can our service offer you?
We are able to provide support to patients, their families and carers.
This includes:
- Specialist nursing service for clinical issues and management of your tracheostomy.
- A point of contact and resource during your hospital stay and after you are discharged.
- Working with the wider tracheostomy team (Medical staff, physiotherapists and speech and language therapists) in order to deliver the most appropriate treatment plan for you.
- Responding to any clinical changes and helping manage problems which may occur.
- Ensuring you have the most suitable tracheostomy tube and accessories for your individual requirements.
- Coordinating tracheostomy tube changes.
- Training and educating you with the skills you will need to manage your tracheostomy independently.
- Assisting in the discharge planning process to ensure you are safe and supported.
- Providing recommendations and suggestions to promote your quality of life with your tracheostomy.
- Providing continuing care following your discharge to ensure your ongoing and changing tracheostomy needs are met.
How to contact us
Monday to Friday 08:00 to 16:00,
To leave a message telephone 01223 348679
To speak to us directly ring 01223 245151 and ask to bleep 152-459
Claudia Russell
Tracheostomy Nurse Consultant
Claire Scase
Tracheostomy Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)
Emma Whattam
Tracheostomy Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)
Karen MacGinley-Kerr
Tracheostomy Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)
Box 48, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 0QQ
We are smoke-free
Smoking is not allowed anywhere on the hospital campus. For advice and support in quitting, contact your GP or the free NHS stop smoking helpline on 0800 169 0 169.
Other formats
Help accessing this information in other formats is available. To find out more about the services we provide, please visit our patient information help page (see link below) or telephone 01223 256998. www.cuh.nhs.uk/contact-us/accessible-information/
Contact us
Cambridge University Hospitals
NHS Foundation Trust
Hills Road, Cambridge
CB2 0QQ
Telephone +44 (0)1223 245151
https://www.cuh.nhs.uk/contact-us/contact-enquiries/