VITAL WORK OF HOSPICE HOMECARE IN WEXFORD
‘Hospice care, palliative care’... scary words for some, a source of huge comfort to others.
Just what does hospice/palliative care mean?
Palliative care is an approach that improves the quality of life of patients and their families facing the problems associated with life threatening illness, through the prevention and relief of suffering by means of early identification and impeccable assessment and treatment of pain and other problems: physical, psychological and spiritual.
It may come as a surprise to many to know that they deliver palliative care to their loved ones on a daily basis... palliative care is the care of the ‘whole’ person, not focussed just on an illness but on quality of life, on relief of symptoms and providing comfort and support.
This care is delivered in homes, nursing Homes, community hospitals and residential care units throughout the county by families, GPs, Public Health and General Nurses and care assistants to many patients with life limiting illnesses.
However, in some instances a patient may develop symptoms that are complex and increasingly difficult to control and more specialist advice is needed, it is at this stage that referral is considered by their GP or their Hospital Consultant to the Community Specialist Palliative Care Team (Wexford Hospice Homecare).
This is a team of Clinical Nurse Specialists, whose core activity is the provision of Specialist palliative care assessment and advice. This service is involved in the support of individuals with a life limiting illness that have more complex and demanding care needs.
Referral to the service can be a source of anxiety for the patient or their family, but with good control of symptoms, education on medications, advice and support the individual often finds that their quality of life improves and they can concentrate on getting on with life.
Referrals are received from the patients GP or hospital consultant; following which a clinical nurse specialist will visit the patient in their home or place of care and introduce the service. A full assessment will be carried out and a plan of care will be decided with the patient, their GP and Public Health Nurse.
Follow-up visits are as needed, and agreed with the patient and their family, contact details are given for the service. Assessment is ongoing and each person’s needs are different, however if symptoms settle and they are no longer in need of specialist palliative care, the patient may be discharged from the service, and should anything change they can be referred back to the service by their GP.
If a patient approaches end of life, the nurse specialist’s involvement in their care increases, providing specialist symptom control and support, working closely with the patients’ family, their GP, the Public Health nursing team and the Irish Cancer Society night nursing service.
The clinical nurse specialists’ role is varied, involving assessment, education, advocacy for
the patient and their family, communication and bereavement follow up.
Wexford Hospice Homecare was set up in 1991 in response to a need for specialist support and advice for patients with life threatening illnesses who had complex symptoms and who wished to stay in their home or place of care.
At present, the service is provided by seven Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNSs) in Palliative Care, an Occupational therapist and secretarial support 21 hours/ week.
The team is coordinated by a Clinical Nurse Manager and is clinically led by a Palliative Care Consultant based in University Hospital Waterford.
The HSE provides a grant of 30% towards the running costs of the service; the remaining 70% is funded by the generosity of the people of Wexford.
We are proud to say that 100% of voluntary funds raised, go directly to maintain the service.
We are delighted to be partnered with Hope and Dream again this year, the funds raised will allow us to continue to provide the care and support that is so important to our patients and their families.
Wexford Hospice Homecare Committee