Barnsley Hospice - Comfort, Care & Dignity

Hospice Practitioners provide medical cover together with the Consultant in Palliative Medicine.

There is 24 hour cover by the medical team. This also includes an out of hours telephone advice service called "Palcall".  This is available for professionals in hospitals and the community who are looking after palliative care patients.  The service is operated by a senior nurse and doctor on call every evening, weekend and Bank Holiday.

The doctors work closely with GPs and hospital consultants.

A clinical administration team provides support for all the clinical staff.

The medical team are always available for advice.

The Patient Services Manager is responsible for the smooth running of all clinical areas.  The Inpatient Unit and the Limes Day Hospice is managed by a Nurse Manager.  There is a high ratio of senior staff nurses, staff nurses and auxiliary nurses, which enables the Hospice to provide very individual care to the patients. 

Nursing staff work day and night duties on a rota to ensure that continuity of care is maintained around the clock.  The nurses have specialist training in palliative care, in addition to their general nursing skills.  Most of the auxiliary nurses have gained or are studying for the NVQ level 2 or 3 qualification in care.  Some have also attended other courses to be more effective in their work. Uniforms are worn and nurses are usually addressed by their first name, as displayed on their badge. 

The complementary therapy team offer a wide range of treatments including massage, reflexology, shiatsu, aromatherapy, acupuncture and Indian head massage.  The therapist works alongside the medical and nursing teams in a fully integrated service.

The main focus of treatment is to introduce new therapies and relaxation techniques to help patients and carers manage their symptoms, stresses and anxieties in a gentle and independent way.

There is a dedicated relaxing treatment room specifically designed for use by the team and treatments can also be provided to community patients in their own homes.

The Hospice has a Bereavement Co-ordinator who leads a team of support workers to provide care for relatives and friends of Hospice patients.

An "Afternoon for Remembering" is held three times a year and is a special service where people have the opportunity to meet together and remember their loved ones. Children and young people receive support from a Family Support Worker and others with specific training in this area.

Lymphoedema is a chronic swelling that can affect any part of the body but usually occurs in the arm or leg. The swelling leads to a restriction in movement and can have an impact on life-style and independence. The main focus of lymphoedema care is to reduce the swelling by gentle exercises, self massage techniques and, on some occasions, bandaging or the use of a special compression garment.

A counselling service for patients and their families is based at the Hospice, providing support to people from hospital and community as well as the Hospice.

The Social Worker has a wide role within the team and is supported by the Discharge Co-ordinator. The work involves giving information, exploring family dynamics, advocacy, applying for additional funding and liaising with other agencies and services in order to access the best care for patients.