Published on: Thursday 03 Jan 2019 at 11:26
We are celebrating the fifth birthday of our Hospice at Home service, which was launched in January 2014!
The team of registered nurses and nursing assistants provide free, short-term, compassionate care for people with life-limiting illnesses in the comfort of their own home, across West Essex, and have cared for more than 2,000 patients and their families over the past 5 years.
In 2017/18 the Hospice at Home team provided support for 770 families, ensuring that patients, families and their carers received compassionate care, at the right time and in the right place.
Commenting on the care that he and his wife, Helen, received from the Hospice at Home team, Martin Dale (from Saffron Walden) said:
“The Hospice at Home team were able to step in and help us when Helen and I needed them – and they were so friendly and were there for you, if you just wanted to talk. I would have really struggled on my own, without Hospice at Home. The team became part of the family – they were really great. It is never easy, especially when you are caring for your wife, but they made it easier. When the Hospice at Home night sitter came on the scene, it really was a God send.”
On celebrating the team’s fifth birthday, Hospice at Home Manager, Sonia Haigh, said:
“Our team has worked so hard over the past 5 years and we are delighted to have been able to support so many hundreds of patients and their families. Home is special, and being able to provide support to people in the comfort of their own home, if that is where they want to be, is a real honour for St Clare.”
Calling on local medical, social and voluntary professionals to make even more referrals to the Hospice at Home service, Sonia Haigh said:
“The Hospice at Home team is available to work closely with local GPs, District Nurses, social and voluntary sector professionals to make sure patients receive co-ordinated care. Hospice at Home care can help to avoid unnecessary hospital admissions, provide short-term care for rapid discharge from hospital while awaiting a care package, and provide hands-on compassionate care in the last weeks of a person’s life in the comfort of their own home.”
Referrals can be made by all health, social and voluntary care professionals, including GPs, District Nurses, Clinical Nurse Specialists, social care or hospital teams. Also, patients, their family, or carer can refer themselves directly. The team will then need to discuss the referral with the patient’s GP. For more information visit: stclarehospice.org.uk/hospice-home
St Clare Hospice at Home team leaders work from 8am to 8pm and aim to respond to any telephone, faxed or electronic referral on the same day. Please note Night Service referrals are assessed and allocated on a daily basis by team leaders.
If you’re not sure if the person you are referring is eligible for Hospice at Home care, just call.
01279 773716 Hospice at Home team (8am-8pm)
01279 773773 24 Hour Advice Line