Information for Patients and Carers

Contact: Hazel Elliott email 

The service was set up as a joint venture between Avon Health Authority, Marie Curie Cancer Care and St. Peter's Hospice and started in October 1995. However, since June 2000 it has been run solely by St Peter's Hospice with some financial support from the Health Authority.

Our Aims:

1. To enable patients who want to remain at home during their last few days of life to receive 24 hour nursing care.
2. To prevent inappropriate admission to hospital at this time by caring for the patient at home until a hospice bed becomes available.
3. To support the Primary Care Team (GP and District Nurse) and increase nursing input.
4. To offer culturally sensitive support to the patient and family / friends.

How does the service work ?

Patients are usually referred by either their District Nurse, GP, Hospice Community Sister or Hospital Palliative Care Team Member. If the patient is not already known to the hospice an assessment visit may be necessary by a member of the hospice team.

Once the referral has been accepted the Hospice at Home nurses are contacted and a rota is set up. The nurses will work a shift system as follows:

• 7.00 a.m. - 2.00 p.m.

• 2.00 p.m. - 10.00 p.m.

• 10.00 p.m. - 7..00 a.m.

They will liaise and update each other at each shift changeover. Every effort will be made to provide continuity from the established team. However, an agency nurse may be used occasionally.

This service is free to the patient.

The GP and district Nurse will continue to visit and monitor the patient's symptom, control and comfort. The Hospice Community Sister will contact the nurses at the house each day and provide expert advice and support. The Hospice Community Sister will assess every few days and the service may be withdrawn if the patient's condition stabilises. It could, however, be restarted if needed at a later date.

If you would like to comment on your experience of using the service, please write to :

Mrs Hazel Elliott, Nursing Director, St. Peter's Hospice, Charlton Road, Brentry, Bristol. BS10 6NL