Information for Professionals

 

 
At Home In-Patient Units Hospice at Home Day Hospice Lymphoedema Service Make a Referral Training

At Home

The service is provided by our Community Nurse Specialist Team who work within the hospice philosophy to:

  • Provide a community based service, offering specialist symptom control, advice and support to patients and carers in their own homes by working in partnership with them, their Primary Health Care Team and other agencies involved.
  • To be available as a resource to professionals and members of the public.

The Community Nurse Specialist works as part of the interdisciplinary hospice team, liaising with other departments e.g. In-Patient unit, Day Hospice, Medical team, Social workers, Physiotherapist, Chaplain and Lymphoedema service. They work in teams, which are allocated to named GP practices.

Referral - a request for assessment can be made by any professional, but must be with the GP's consent. The referral should be directed initially to the Medical Secretary.

There is a flexible referral package available so that an appropriate assessment can be made of individual patient needs. The initial assessment visit may include any one or a combination of:

  • A Hospice Community Nurse Specialist
  • A Hospice Doctor
  • The patient's GP
  • The District Nurse
  • The Lymphoedema Sister

The referral can take place in any setting, e.g. the patient's home, a nursing home or the hospice.

At any one time the Hospice Community Nurse Specialists care for over 375 patients, of which approximately 85 are attending the Day Hospices.

During any year approximately 800 new patients are seen.

Following the initial assessment, the Community Nurse Specialist is responsible, in conjunction with the Primary Health Care Team, for the on-going support of the patient and their carers in relation to:

  • Psychological needs
  • Symptom Control
  • Exploring family issues
  • Referral on to other hospice services
  • Patient / carer education
  • Financial advice
  • Short term equipment loan
  • Bereavement care

Please click here for the protocol for referral to the St Peter's Hospice Community Team

 
Registered Charity Number: 269177

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