Hospice at Home

 

What is Hospice at Home?

Based here at Trinity, Hospice at Home supports patients overnight, giving families more confidence in managing their illness and helping to avoid unwanted hospital admissions.

For some people, their most important wish is to stay in their own home as they approach end of life, but taking care of someone who is very ill can be difficult, especially during the night, when GP surgeries are closed but expert advice is needed quickly.

Our team of specialist nurses and health care assistants can help in many ways:

  • Nausea and pain management
  • Breathing difficulties
  • Giving prescribed medications to alleviate any symptoms
  • Helping with all aspects of personal comfort and care

In addition, the team provides practical advice, emotional and psychological support to help reduce stress and anxiety for those caring for someone at home. Our nurses can discuss any changes in a patients’ condition with their wider care team, so there’s always a smooth transition between day and night time services. We also support carers following their loved one’s death.

Last year our Hospice at Home team supported 1,075 patients

Without Hospice at Home, we simply wouldn’t have had that time, together, in the place we spent our lives.

Read Claire's story

What time does Hospice at Home operate?

We usually have two teams on duty – one covering the north of the coast, the other the south. Hospice at Home works seven days a week, 365 days a year and visits to patients’ homes occur between 10pm and 8am.

The length and frequency of a visit will depend on the help and support required. Sometimes we don’t need to visit in person; a chat over the phone or a skype call may be all that’s needed.

Very happy with Hospice at Home…phone calls were very supportive. Great to know someone is there in the night

Can anyone have Hospice at Home care?

To access Hospice at Home patients must:

  • Be over 18 years old
  • Have an advanced life-limiting illness
  • Have an advanced care plan in place which states that the patients’ preferred place of death is at home
  • Inform their GP of the referral
  • Must not have had chemotherapy or radiotherapy during the previous 14 days (with the exception of patients who have been fast- tracked home for end of life care)

Your GP, District Nurse or other health care professional can make a referral by telephoning the Care Co-ordination Service on 01253 957819. Once a referral has been made, the Hospice at Home team will be in touch.

How to contact us

During the night, the team can be contacted by telephoning 01253 955750. The call will be answered by Fylde Coast Medical Services who will contact Hospice at Home on a family’s behalf.