Home Care

Most people with a life limiting illness want to stay living in their own homes and our home care services aim to facilitate this.  The home care teams consist of specialist nurses, doctors, social workers and welfare officers. Each of these professionals can help support patients and their families through serious illness.  Other service such as Arts and Complementary Therapies and a community suppoprt volunteer service are also available at home.  St Christopher’s staff work along side GPs and district nurses offering symptom control advice and helping patients and families to adjust to their situation.  Patients are assigned a St Christopher’s clinical nurse specialist who will liaise and co-ordinate between the different services involved in the patient’s care. 

During the evenings and nights a nurse is available by telephone for patients at home to give advice and support. An assessment home visit can be made for urgent medical problems that cannot wait until the morning.

When patients are referred to St Christopher’s, an initial assessment is made in the patient’s home.  Ongoing home visits will be arranged as appropriate.  Subsequent visits often take place in the St Christopher’s clinic suite which is part of the Anniversary Centre at the hospice.  Patients are also able to access other services in the Anniversary Centre, such as music, art and complementary therapies and social and group activities.  Patients can have help with bathing or join in the rehabilitation gym to help maintain strength and balance.

Find out about the Anniversary Centre

Find out more about the pioneering days of palliative care

St Christopher’s Home Care