Care in the community works for Leighton
Hywel Dda Health Board is providing more care in the community, rather than in the traditional hospital settings. This is one patient’s experience… A retired Llanelli steelworker has praised the work of the Hywel Dda Health Board Acute Response Team (ART) for not just treating his condition but becoming life-long friends as well. Leighton Hawker, 67, from Garnant, Llanelli, has been living with diabetes since the 1980s. In 2003 he lost his leg to the condition and a few years ago an ulcer on his heel meant he had to battle to save the other leg as well. As the ulcer had penetrated the bone, Leighton needed a course of intravenous antibiotics (through a needle) to treat it but was otherwise healthy. Since he was well enough to be treated at home, the Carmarthenshire ART service were able to come out and care for him everyday for six weeks. A nurse from the team administered the antibiotics four times a day, starting first thing in the morning and sometimes not fin...