At Home
For patients who need specialised palliative care in their own home St Catherine’s Hospice has a Clinical Nurse Specialist team of eight highly trained professionals led by a Community Services Manager and supported by a Community Consultant in Palliative Medicine.
This experienced team is available seven days a week and works closely with GPs, district nurses and care home staff to provide advice and support for patients and to help them achieve the best possible quality of life. The team supports patients and their families to live with all the effects of a incurable medical conditon by effectively managing symptoms as well as encouraging them to look ahead so that informed choices can be made about how care is provided.
For people who are nearing the end of life, the work of our Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNS) is invaluable to those who would prefer to die in their own home rather than in a hospital or hospice. Our nurses work closely with other professionals to ensure they can achieve this aim.
People are usually referred to St Catherine's by their GP, district nurse, consultant or hospital team and each person is assigned, where possible, to an individual specialist nurse to ensure consistency of care. If a person's condition stabilises or is manageable without further involvement from the team they may be discharged, if not, support will be offered on an ongoing basis but people can be referred back to the service. The team provides specialist symptom control alongside emotional, psychological and bereavement support for patients and their families.
The community Clinical Nurse Specialist Team are highly qualified specialists funded through St Catherine's Hospice and the charitable donations of local people.
