Community Nurse Specialists

Hospice Specialist Palliative Care Nurses work in the community. The service is available 9:00am to 5:00pm Monday to Friday. They provide advice and support to patients, family and healthcare professionals.

Following a referral, the Community Specialist Palliative Care Nurse will contact the patient to arrange a home visit.

The Specialist Nurse will:

• Offer advice on relief of pain, other symptoms and medication.
• Offer emotionall support to help patients and their family cope with illness, treatment, fears and worries.
• Support and enhance the patient's quality of life whilst at home.
• Answer questions and give information relevant to the patient's illness.
• Liaise with other healthcare professionals involved in the patient's care, including your GP and the Hospice Medical Team.
• Discuss other services which may be of benefit.
• Home visits by the Hospice Medical Team can be arranged or patients can be assessed at the Hospice Outpatient Clinic.

This service aims to imrove the quality of end of life care for patients and families. Many patients would like to be cared for at home throughout their illness, however, difficult symptons and the sheer constancy of caring may precipitate hospital or hospice admission.

Your referral for this service will be requested by your GP