Local Services Update – November 2023
Rosemary Ferguson – Coastal Team Leader, Hospiscare
The local Hospiscare team have had another very busy year supporting people in our community.
Living with a life limiting illness is challenging and whilst there are many health and social care services to support people at different stages of their illness, if things become particularly complex or difficult then this is where the expertise and support of the Hospiscare services can be a great help and relief for everyone involved.
The support that we provide in both our inpatient and community settings is extensive. Our clinical teams are made up of Specialist Palliative Medicine Consultants, Advanced Nurse Practitioners, Clinical Nurse Specialists, Specialist Palliative Care Paramedic, Admiral Dementia Nurse, Occupational and Physiotherapist, spiritual care, bereavement and voluntary services. Our holistic assessments and care focus on addressing complex physical symptoms and psychological concerns to provide the relief and support required.
Our Hospiscare@Home team provide hands-on specialist nursing care to those who wish to spend the final days of their lives at home, or to provide short term help with care to support them through a period of crisis and avoid admission to hospital if that is their wish. They work closely with all the Hospiscare services and any community health and social care services involved with a patient.
Our inpatient services at Searle House in Exeter provides 24 hr care to support particularly complex situations that require continuous expertise of specialist assessments and skilled intervention. This will often enable people to be discharged home again when more comfortable for ongoing support in the community.
As well as providing direct care to patients and their families we use our expertise as a specialist palliative and end of life care service to support and educate all generalist services and healthcare professionals. We continue to provide education opportunities to our NHS community nursing teams, and local universities. This includes support for medical, nursing, allied healthcare professional and paramedic students.
Referrals can be made to our service by the persons own GP, a hospital doctor and NHS community teams.
Helpful advice and answers to questions that arise for many people who are living with, or supporting someone, with a life limiting illness can be accessed here: https://www.hospiscare.co.uk/how-we-help/advice-support/
November 2023
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