The Community Palliative Care Team work alongside family doctors, district nurses and other care agencies, offering advice and support to patients and families in their own homes. They also have close working relationships with Oncologists, Medical Teams and Hospital Clinical Nurse Specialists.

The service is available 9.00am – 5.00pm seven days a week, including Bank Holidays. The team consists of:

  • Clinical Nurse Specialists who are highly trained nurses specialising in palliative care
  • Community Hospice Carers

The team also liaises very closely with the Marie Curie Nursing Service and they can provide some overnight care.

Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNSs) are able to offer:

  • Advice on how to manage the physical problems caused by your illness or treatment
  • Someone to talk about your illness, how it affects your life and those close to you
  • Support to your family and friends
  • Advice on financial issues
  • Help in communicating with others involved in your care on your behalf
  • Support to the Primary Health Care Teams by offering education and advice.

Some of the CNSs are able to prescribe medications having undertaken extra training.

Referrals to the Clinical Nurse Specialists can be made by anyone, but must be made with the patient’s permission. The family doctor will be informed of referrals made to the team.

Community Hospice Carers are able to offer:
  • Help with everyday tasks such as washing and dressing
  • Respite “sits” (2-3 hours normally) to relieve carers when they have to go out during the day
  • Someone to talk to about how your illness is affecting your day to day coping. This may involve liaising between Clinical Nurse Specialists and District Nurses when appropriate.
This practical care is offered on a short-term basis. If ongoing care is required a referral would be made to other care agencies. A referral for Community Hospice Carers may be made by any health professional.