What is palliative care?
Palliative Care is:
`...the active holistic care of patients with advanced, progressive illness. Management of pain and other symptoms and provision of psychological, social and spiritual support is paramount. The goal of palliative care is achievement of the best quality of life for patients and their families.
In-Patient Unit
Our purpose built In-Patient Unit opened in January 2000 enabling up to 200 patients to be cared for each year. The unit has eight bedrooms with en-suite facilities and access to the gardens.
Patients over the age of 18 are accepted who need help with the management of the problems associated with a life threatening illness. Most of our patients have cancer but we also care for patients with Motor Neurone Disease, AIDS, irreversible organ failure and other illnesses if we believe we will be able to help the particular patient.
Patients are admitted for
- Assessment
- Symptom management
- Terminal care
The length of stay is individually assessed as we run short stay beds (usually 7-10 days) to benefit more patients.
Our team are experts in keeping patients as comfortable as possible, controlling their pain, easing distressing symptoms and providing emotional and spiritual support through difficult times.
Families and friends may visit at any time and arrangements can be made for relatives to stay overnight if patients are very ill. Children, babies and pets are warmly welcomed.
How to refer
Referrals are made via the patients
GP or a Hospital Doctor.
Patients or family members/carers are welcome to contact
the hospice directly and talk to the Senior Nurse about how
to access Hospice services
Referrals are accepted on a Hospice form, which provides
us with useful and necessary information about the patient.
These must be filled in by the Doctor or the nurse. Forms
can either be posted or faxed and a response is made within
the time specified by the referrer on the form. We do not
run our waiting list in chronological order but assess the
individual needs of each patient.
We are pleased to admit patients Monday to Friday 0900-1700.
For out of hours support, please refer to the 24-hour Advice
line.
Healthcare professionals can download the form here and then
fax or post it to us.
Tel: 01279 773770
Fax: 01279 773771
Email: patients@stclare-hospice.co.uk
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