saint catherine's hospice
‘You matter because you are you; and you matter to the last moment of your life.
We will do all we can, not only to help you die peacefully but also to live
until you die.’ – Dame Cecily Saunders, founder of the Hospice movement. If you
or someone you know has been told they have an illness and might not get better,
then you may have heard of palliative care. This is the care that is given to
patients with an illness for which there is no known cure. For some patients,
this may mean that specialist care is required. Around half of our patients are
learning to live with cancer. The remainder will have a diagnosis from a wide
range of other illnesses such as heart disease, respiratory conditions, end
stage kidney and liver disease and neurological illnesses. Our team consists of
highly-experienced professionals ready to provide specialist palliative care to
patients who have highly complex needs. We provide specialist nurses, doctors,
physiotherapists, occupational therapists, bereavement counsellors, social
workers, complementary therapists and spiritual care support. All areas of Saint
Catherine’s work are supported by a highly dedicated team of volunteers. We know
that learning to live with an incurable, progressive illness goes beyond the
treatment of the physical and practical. We know that people are likely to feel
many different emotions throughout an illness: from fear and anger to anxiety
and guilt. The feelings can be overwhelming at times for both patients and their
families and friends. Our holistic approach aims at all times to provide
individualised patient care, tailoring the delivery of that care to meet the
needs of the patient and those close to them and in accordance with the elements
of NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) guideline 138,
providing support and guidance for emotional and spiritual wellbeing alongside
the clinical care. Patients don’t need to come and stay at the hospice in order
to access our services. We have teams that can visit a patient at home.
Sometimes, patients may spend time at our Wellbeing Centre or at an outpatient
clinic. At times patients may need the round-the-clock care and support provided
by our In-Patient Unit. Our staff and volunteers provide a respectful space
where patients can chat and laugh, make friends, and ask questions. We
understand sadness and listen to fears. All of our hospice services are free of
charge to patients and families.
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