Nursing Care

Our registered nurses visit patients at home and can offer overnight care.

Our Nursing Care team is made up of registered hospice care nurses and hospice support workers. They work closely with GPs, district nurses, and other community services to allow people to be cared for in their own home avoiding unwanted hospital stays.

Being diagnosed with a life-limiting illness or living with a palliative condition can be a daunting experience, and for many people, being cared for in their own home, surrounded by people they know and love, can make a big difference to their overall wellbeing.

Our registered nurses and hospice support workers are specially trained to provide high-quality nursing and personal care, whilst being on hand to provide emotional support to both you and your family. We’re often called in to support patients with highly complex palliative needs. We manage medication and make patients comfortable. We’ll regularly stay with patients and their families to talk and alleviate fears. Sometimes we remain with patients overnight which not only improves quality of life for the patient but also their carer who is able to recharge. Our team enable a peaceful, dignified and calm end of life at home.

Care can be provided over a period of hours, days, weeks or even months depending on need and can include personal and nursing care, advice on pain management and symptom control, support and care on discharge from a hospital visit and much-needed respite care for families and carers who need to take a break and have some time for themselves. This list is not exhaustive, the care will be tailored to your individual needs.

No words can describe how invaluable your help was during my husband's last months. Thank you ladies.

These ladies are nothing short of angels. We will always be grateful for the hospice support we received.

Knowing my husband was cared for in such a compassionate and dignified way is a huge comfort.

Understanding your care

We realise that some of the terms connected your care plan can be confusing. Below we explain some of the words you may hear from us or other care providers.

Hospice at Home

Hospice is a type of care not a setting. We provide hospice care in the patient’s home. The main goal of hospice care is to make life better for people with terminal illnesses. This can be provided at any time from diagnosis to when the patient dies, no matter how long that takes. The emphasis is on treating the individual in the way they want. It also means taking care of medical, emotional, social, practical, psychological, and spiritual needs, as well as the needs of their family and helpers. This kind of care, which looks at all these parts, is often called ‘holistic care’. Hospice care also continues to support those closest to the patient after their eventual death. Our care team includes trained bereavement counsellors and volunteers who can provide ‘pre-bereavement’ support.

Palliative care

Palliative care is centred on improving the lives of patients with serious or life-threatening illnesses. It’s a way of caring that looks at the whole person, not just their illness which is progressive and incurable. The aim is to deal with both the symptoms of the illness and side effects of any treatment. This holistic approach addresses emotional, social and even spiritual issues connected to the diagnosis. Our nursing team are supported in this by our Complementary Therapist and our Pre-Bereavement family support practitioners. Our registered nurses are experts in palliative care and treat patients in their own home.

Respite care

Hospice Support Workers are available to help family carers look after a loved one, providing much needed respite. This can be planned or potentially in an emergency if for example a family carer are themselves too taken to hospital.

Overnight care

We are able to spend quality time with patients and their families ensuring everyone is able to rest. Overnight care includes providing personal care and companionship to the patient at what is often an otherwise lonely or distressing time.

Nursing care

At a glance

Highly skilled registered nurses and hospice support workers caring for patients in the home.

Provide 24-hour care at end-of-life or ad hoc hours over a period of weeks or months.

Treat patients with progressive conditions when care is considered palliative.

Liaise with GPs, district nurses and other community care agencies.

Enable much needed respite for families and primary carers.

Eligibility criteria

Do you qualify?

Those aged over 18 with life-limiting illnesses, when their care or treatment is considered palliative.

Referrals

How to book

If you think you are eligible you can self-refer yourself or someone else by contacting us directly. Or ask your GP, District Nurse, Macmillan Nurse or Community Matron to refer you.

T: 01434 604 321
E: nurses@tynedalehospice.com