Local Care and Support
At St Catherine’s Hospice we understand that when someone you love is ill, it affects everyone. We are committed to providing people with high quality care and we know that although caring for someone you love can be very rewarding, it can also leave you in need of some support yourself.
As a carer you have a vital role in providing your loved one with the care they need, so we will work with you and alongside you to make sure you feel involved, supported and listened to when it comes to their care.
Our Clinical and Wellbeing Teams can provide you with practical support and advice, but there are also some local organisations that may be able to help:
Carers Support West Sussex
Helpline and online support for carers in West Sussex with a focus on:
– Emotional support
Carer Contingency Planning
– Carers Assessments
– Practical guidance and information (including equipment and grants)
0300 028 8888
info@carerssupport.org.uk
Action for Carers Surrey
Helpline and online support for carers in Surrey offering:
– One-to-one phone support instead of home visits
– An extended Carer Information Centre, with more staff able to take your questions by phone and email
– Increased information via the website
0303 040 1234
CarerSupport@actionforcarers.org.uk
Caring to the End
Website supporting Surrey carers with information on end of life care:
– practical, legal and financial information for carers who are caring or who have just lost a loved one
– advice on coping with grief and where to go for support after caring
– information for young carers and parent carers
The Brigitte Trust
The Brigitte Trust provides a service for people living in Surrey:
– offering emotional support and practical help at home to people and their families facing cancer, MND, MS, heart and lung failure and other life-threatening illness.
Caring means something different for everyone – but one thing that’s true for every carer is that you cannot keep going without a break.
Whilst having a break is doubtlessly good for you, it also means that the person you’re looking after may be able to enjoy new experiences, have a change of scene and routine and mix with other people. – Carers UK
Accessing respite
If you are in need of a break from caring, respite care can enable you to take some time out while the person you care for is looked after by someone else.
Respite services in the home are being provided by both Crossroads Care Surrey and TuVida West Sussex (formerly known as Crossroads Care South Central).
See also: NHS information on carer’s breaks and respite care and Carer’s UK’s section on looking after your own health, Taking a Break.
Crossroads Care Surrey
Offers home based care to people facing the end of life to give carers a respite break.
01372 869970
enquiries@crossroadscaresurrey.org.uk
TuVida West Sussex
Support for carers, including: respite, emergency respite and children’s services.
01903 790270
westsussex@tuvida.org
Taking a break
The types of breaks that are available, and how to plan and fund your break.
0808 808 7777
advice@carersuk.org
Support for carers in hospitals
Often the Wellbeing Team find that carers are not aware of the additional support they can access when the person they care for is visiting, or staying in, hospital. Here are two ways carers can receive support:
Hospital Carer Advisors
Action for Carers Surrey have Hospital Carer Advisors located in the main Surrey hospitals: East Surrey, Epsom and St Heliers, the Royal Surrey, and Ashford and St Peter’s.
Hospital Carer Advisors are there to help provide support to carers when the person they care for is at the hospital. Carer Advisors can:
- Bridge communication gaps between the carer and the hospital, and offer advice, information and emotional support
- Speak on behalf of the carer, including in hospital meetings
- Signpost carers, and the person they care for, to support from other organisations
- Guide carers through the hospital system
- Help with the discharge process, which can be very challenging.
The Wellbeing Team at St Catherine’s can make direct referrals to Hospital Care Advisors on behalf of carers we are supporting, if they are happy for us to do so.
Carers Passport
A Carers Passport is a practical way for hospital staff in Surrey and Sussex to identify the main unpaid carer of a patient in hospital. It is a document that helps a carer to continue to support the person they care for, within the hospital setting.
Carers passports should be available on every ward and give carers the right to:
- Receive information about the patient’s care
- Assist with feeding, washing and dressing
- Attend relevant meeting and be involved in the patient’s discharge.
It also entitles the carer to additional benefits including:
- Discounted multi-exit car parking
- Discounted food in the restaurant
- Refreshments on the ward.