It's your hospice - use it!
We are launching a promotion to emphasise to the general public that St Mary's Hospice is a source of information and support for people coping with advanced illness of any type and is not solely for people with cancer at the end of their lives: 'It's your hospice - use it!'
Hospice nurses, doctors and therapists have expertise in managing distressing physical symptoms such as pain, breathlessness or nausea, as well as in helping people deal with the anxiety and depression that often accompany serious illness. Such physical and psychological problems do not just affect those with cancer. People with, for example, advanced heart disease or respiratory illness such as COPD may also experience pain and/or breathlessness. Those caring at home for loved ones with advanced illness often have many concerns and suffer from exhaustion too.
St Mary's offers a nine bed inpatient unit, outpatients’ clinics, day services, welfare advice, and complementary & creative therapies, as well as family support and care in bereavement.
Normally people would expect to be referred to any of our services by their GP, or by a District nurse or Macmillan nurse. But, donations from local people provide most of our funds and so we are now offering in return direct access so that adults, or their carers, with any advanced illness in South Cumbria can refer themselves for information and/or support (contact details below).
This is not an emergency service – urgent requests should go through the usual NHS channels - but we will aim to respond to contacts within 2 normal working days. If we cannot provide what is needed we will make every effort to put people in touch with the appropriate organisation.
This project is part of our ongoing public engagement activity and will be publicised widely through local media and healthcare organisations.
To ask us for information or advice please make contact in either of the following ways:
by email to yourhospice@stmaryshospice.org.uk
or by phone to a dedicated answer machine on 01229 483786