Community support

Many people with a serious or life limiting illness would prefer to remain in the comfort of their own home rather than be in a hospital or hospice. The community palliative care team from Meadow House will do their very best to help patients remain at home if that is their preference.

Our community specialist palliative team all have specialist training in palliative care and includes:

• Community clinical nurse specialists (CNS)
• Doctors
• Physiotherapists
• Occupational therapists
• Psychologists
• Social workers
• Patient advocates
• Bereavement counsellors.

Clinical nurse specialists play a major role in supporting patients in their usual place of residence. They do not usually provide hands-on care but provide specialist advice in managing difficult symptoms and helping with other problems you or your family/carer may have, including:

• Pain relief and symptom control
• Linking in with GPs to discuss changes in medication
• Listening to and working with patients and their family or carers to address any concerns
• Supporting patients and their family or carers during the last stages of illness
• Linking in with hospital teams to ensure continuity of care

Clinical nurse specialists can also provide onward referrals for help and support to other healthcare professionals within the team.