When there is no cure for an illness, palliative care tries to make the end of a person’s life as comfortable as possible. This is done by attempting to relieve pain and other distressing symptoms while providing psychological, social and spiritual support. Carers and family are also offered emotional and spiritual support. This is called a `holistic` approach to care.
Some people with conditions such as cancer can live for many years but they sometimes need treatments such as radiotherapy or chemotherapy to help keep their cancer, or other condition under control. Palliative care can be offered following such treatments or, in the earlier stages of an illness, alongside other treatments. This can be particularly important for children and young people who may live with a life-limiting condition for a long time.
Specialist Palliative Care Services
The Specialist Palliative Care Team in Stockport aims to provide specialist advice and support to achieve optimum quality of life for individuals and their families when facing a diagnosis of cancer or any other progressive life threatening illness. The Specialist Palliative Care Team will not take over a person’s care but act as a specialist resource working alongside and in support of generic services within Stockport NHS Foundation Trust and the community, such as GP’s and District Nurses.
The team includes:
- Consultant in Palliative Medicine
- Associate Specialist in Palliative Medicine
- Macmillan Clinical Nurse Specialists
- Palliative Care Pharmacist
- Palliative Care Social Worker
- Palliative Care Dietitian
- Secretarial support
Palliative Care Respite
The Palliative Care Respite team provide care and support to people who have Cancer and other life limiting illnesses. They work closely with other services to provide the best possible care to patients and carers.
The aim of the service is to enable people with Cancer and other life limiting illnesses to be cared for at home, which could include their own house or a care home. The team place particular importance on helping people to achieve their goal to die at home rather than in hospital. There are Healthcare Assistants within the team who can provide 3-4 hours day respite support or overnight sits from 10pm – 7am. Healthcare Assistants provide hands on care and they are experienced in caring for people with Palliative Care needs in a sensitive and supportive way. |