Frequently Asked Questions:

• How often will I be in contact with a St Catherine’s community nurse?
• Will you always visit me at home?
• What will you do during the visit?
• Then what happens?
• Can I get in touch with the community nurses between arranged visits or telephone contacts?
• What about at other times?
• Can my family or friends contact the community nurse for advice?
• Do you provide nursing in the home?
• How do St Catherine’s Community Nurses differ from other nurses that visit people in their homes?
• Do we have to pay for any of the care provided by St Catherine’s?
• If I am under the care of one of the St Catherine’s community nurses, how often will I see a doctor from the hospice?
• Will I always remain under the care of St Catherine’s?
• Sharing Information
  

How often will I be in contact with a St Catherine’s community nurse?

The frequency of our contacts will depend on your individual need and will be discussed with you or your family. Our contacts may be by telephone or a visit. This may be daily, weekly or monthly depending on your needs.

We will only visit with prior arrangement and with your permission. When this arrangement is made we will provide you with an indication of the time band in which we aim to visit you.   

Sometimes due to unforeseen circumstances, nurses can be delayed or may have to rearrange at short notice. Of course we will try to minimise these occasions, but we ask you to understand that these changes are unavoidable at times.  

Will you always visit me at home?

Generally, yes.  However, if you are attending day hospice your nurse may arrange for you to be seen by the day hospice team instead of visiting you at home.  If you would prefer, and are able to, then we can see you at the hospice by pre-arranged appointment.

If neither of these options is suitable, please discuss this with your community nurse.  

What will you do during the visit?

The purpose of our visits is to provide palliative care advice and support, giving you an opportunity to discuss your main concerns. These may be about your physical symptoms, your concerns about the future, questions about your condition or treatments you have been offered or are currently undertaking.   

It may be about listening and addressing any other worries or concerns you or your family may have.  

Then what happens?

The outcome of our visit may be to suggest a change to your current care plan. This may include liaising with your GP about medication changes or your district nurse, Social Services or others involved in your care. It may involve referring you to other hospice services, including day hospice, the occupational therapist, physiotherapist or the welfare advisor. It may also include discussion about potential admission to the hospice or arranging for one of the hospice doctors to review you.

At the end of the visit, your St Catherine’s community nurse will always let you know when they will be in touch with you again. This may mean booking another visit or arranging to telephone you at a convenient point.
 

Can I get in touch with the community nurses between arranged visits or telephone contacts?

Yes, you can telephone to speak to us during our working day. If we are out, there is the facility to leave a voicemail message and we will return your call.

If you want to alert us to any changes that have occurred, a good time to call is 8.30 am or soon after.

What about at other times?

If you need hospice advice or support during the evenings or weekends, telephone 01293 447333 and ask for the nurse in charge or follow the instructions given on the telephone. The nursing staff will listen to your concerns; give appropriate advice and signpost you as appropriate.  This may be to the GP on call service. They will also update your notes so that your community nurse can follow it up on their next working day.

Can my family or friends contact the community nurse for advice?

Yes, as long as we have your consent, we are happy to be contacted by your family and friends as well.

However, no discussion will take place between hospice staff and your relatives or carers if you are unwilling for such discussions to take place.

Do you provide nursing in the home?

No, St Catherine’s community nurses provide palliative care advice and support but not practical nursing care.  However, we can advise you about the provision and availability of home nursing care in your area and can liaise with the people who provide this type of care.  This may be Social Services, district nurses, or independent care agencies.

How do St Catherine’s Community Nurses differ from other nurses that visit people in their homes?

• District nurses are allocated to your GP’s surgery and are part of the NHS Primary Care Team.  A district nurse is typically the key worker in the provision of your practical care at home.  St Catherine’s Hospice provides the specialist palliative input which is not available via the NHS.
• Marie Curie nurse is the term applied to a nurse night sitting service which is jointly funded by the Marie Curie charity and the NHS. This is a limited service available across all geographical areas served by St Catherine’s Hospice.  Marie Curie nurses are generally arranged via your district nurse.
• Macmillan nurse is the term applied to nurses who are, or were previously funded by the Macmillan Cancer Care charity. Macmillan nurses work in a wide number of settings to help patients with cancer.  In this area they mainly work in hospitals. There are no Macmillan nurses providing community hospice care in this area.
• Specialist NHS nurses - The NHS has a wide range of nurses who specialise in supporting people with many different conditions. You may also be under the care of a specialist nurse at your local hospital. St Catherine’s works in partnership with hospital teams to ensure effective exchange of information.
  

Do we have to pay for any of the care provided by St Catherine’s?

No, people are referred to St Catherine’s Hospice based on their need for palliative care and all our services are offered without charge.

St Catherine’s Hospice is however, a registered charity and we rely on the financial support of our local community, legacies and in memoriam donations.

Sometimes we are able to make claims on patient’s private medical insurance.  If you are covered in this way, please let us know as it would be of great help to us.

If I am under the care of one of the St Catherine’s community nurses, how often will I see a doctor from the hospice?

It depends on your medical needs. You may see a doctor from St Catherine’s soon after you are referred.  The doctor may arrange to see you again at home or as an outpatient at the hospice.

Your community nurse works closely with the medical team.  We hold regular team meetings when we may discuss the problems you are experiencing, in order to suggest options which may help.

If you, your community nurse or GP think it would be helpful, then we can arrange for one our doctors to review you either at home, when you attend day hospice or as an outpatient.
 
Will I always remain under the care of St Catherine’s?

No.  Sometimes we will discharge you back to the care of your GP and district nurse or to another health or social care agency.

This is because your palliative care needs can change.  Your illness may necessitate increasing hospice input over time. However, the needs of some patients may decrease to the point that they no longer require input from the hospice.

You can also request to be discharged if you no longer wish to receive palliative care.

Your care is constantly reviewed and any changes to your care will be discussed and planned with you and others involved in your care.

Sharing Information

We would also like to make you aware that it is normal practice for us to exchange relevant clinical information with other professionals such as GPs, out of hours doctors and hospitals.  If you have any questions about this practice, please discuss it with one of the members of the team.