Information for patients and carers

Who can access the service?

This service is for patients with a South Sefton GP who are in the last weeks to months of life.

We can support you and your family if you wish to stay at home in the last weeks of life.

We can provide you and your family with support and care during a time of crisis to reduce the chance of an unnecessary hospital admission.

Support on discharge from hospital or hospice enabling you to return home.

How do I access the service?

Your GP, District Nurse or any other Health Care Professional will refer you to the IMPaCT at Woodlands, Hospice at Home service.

Following referral a Hospice at Home clinical co-ordinator will make contact and arrange to visit or take further details and explain the service to you.

When is the sitting service available?

Day sits are available for a morning or an afternoon. Night sits are available from 10.00pm to 7.00am.

Who will provide my care?

Specially trained Health Care Assistants, supported by clinical co-ordinators, in conjunction with other health care providers.

In the event of a symptom control crisis a Health Care Professional can access Consultant advice  to discuss a management plan or if needed a home visit.

How much will it cost?

Provided free via South Sefton Clinical Commissioning Group.

Obviously it depends on how long a period of time the Heath Care Assistant is spending in your home.  Unless it is a short visit to perform some specific function, it would be really helpful, particularly at night if the member of staff had access to:

• A comfortable chair, in a warm room (it’s easy to forget that heating is sometimes set to go off at night).
• A lamp by which to read and write.
• A telephone landline for emergency calls only (in the event of mobile failure).
• A power point for charging a mobile phone.
• Toilet and hand wash facilities.
• Tea or coffee making facilities.
• A means of securing the home whilst inside it e.g. door locks.
• We would ask that there is no smoking in the room at the time of the visit.
• We would also ask that pets would be under control or out of the way.

Discharge from service

This is a short term service, should your condition stabilise, discharge may be appropriate, this will be assessed at three months by Hospice at Home clinical co-ordinators.

How will IMPaCT at Woodlands know if I am happy with the service?

Following each use of the service, the core Hospice at Home Team will be in touch with you.  It is very important to us, to know whether you are happy with the service you have received, whether you have found it helpful and what you feel we can do to improve our service to you.  Please take this opportunity to tell us honestly what you think.