Frequently Asked Questions:

• How often will I have contact from St Catherine’s Community Care team?
• 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 Care team between arranged visits or telephone contacts?
• Can my family or friends contact the Community Care team for advice?
• Do you provide nursing in the home?
• How does St Catherine’s Community Care 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 Care team, 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 have contact from St Catherine’s Community Care team?

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.  

From mid-January 2009 our Community Care service operates over 7 days a week.  This means you may be visited by several members of the Community Care team, which will minimise delays and provide a more effective, integrated service.

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.

You may also be offered the opportunity to attend a short-term support programme aiming to help you live your life to the full.

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 assessment visit 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.  

From January 2009, and over a phased period, the team will be developing to provide hands-on nursing care for patients at home from 8.00 am-8.00 pm.  This practical care aims to provide hospice care in your home for short periods of time.  As this new service is being rolled out over our catchment, please ask about availability in your area.

Then what happens?

The outcome of our assessment 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 welfare advisor, for spiritual support or to the counselling team.   It may also include discussion about potential admission to the hospice, support from the practical care team or arranging for one of the hospice doctors to review you.

At the end of the visit, the 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 Care team between arranged visits or telephone contacts?

From 19th January, please call the central phone number 01293 447333 if you need to contact the Community Care team.  This number can be used 7 days a week.  Your call will be taken by one of our reception team and responded to as appropriate.

Please be aware that after 8.00 pm on weekdays and 5.00 pm at weekends, calls are directed in the first instance via an automated system.

By using the new central number, you will help us to reply to your queries promptly and efficiently.

From the end of January a small team will be available at weekends to follow up ongoing issues or concerns with you or respnod to your enquiries by phone or visit. 

Can my family or friends contact the Community Care team 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?

Yes, from mid-January 2009, the Community Care service at St Catherine's has changed.  The team will be offering some hands-on nursing care for patients at home from 8.00 am-8.00 pm.  This practical care aims to provide hospice care in your home for short periods of time. 

This expansion of the care we can provide to patients and their families at home is not intended to take over from care you may already be receiving from others.  It is intended to provide hospice care in your own home and widen your choices concerning your care.  The option of in-patient care at the hospice will

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

• District nurses:  a district nurse is typically the key worker in the provision of your practical care at home.  St Catherine’s provides the specialist hospice 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 based on their need for hospice care and all our services are offered without charge.

St Catherine’s 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 St Catherine’s Community Care team, 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.

The Community Care nurses work closely with the medical team.  We hold regular meetings when we may discuss the problems you are experiencing, in order to suggest options which may help.   Following these meetings we will update your GP/hospital consultant/hospital specialist nurse so they are all aware of the support that we are offering

If you, the Community Care 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.  Occasionally 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.  

Sometimes your key follow-up will be via your GP with the hospice providing support to the GP via GSF meetings held at your GP surgery.  Patients cared for via the GSF programme have rapid re-access to hospice service should their needs change.

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

Your care is regularly 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.