St Elizabeth Hospice working in Partnership with East Coast Community Healthcare (ECCH) have begun offering specialist palliative day care to patients in Great Yarmouth and Waveney.
This new service runs every Tuesday at Beccles Hospital for those patients with life limiting illnesses that require support for a number of complex physical symptoms. The new service is part of the hospice’s plan to bring more day services to the Great Yarmouth and Waveney area, and is part of their partnership with ECCH.
Day services gives patients as well as their families and carers access to specialist nurses, doctors, occupational therapists, counsellors, healthcare assistants and volunteers over a planned period of time to support their symptoms, improve their wellbeing as well as care for their emotional and spiritual needs. The care aims to help patients to live as normal a life as possible, helping them to stay at home as long as they wish to.
Hanna McDowell, head of therapy at St Elizabeth Hospice, said: “We’re really pleased to be able to start offering specialist palliative day services to those in the Great Yarmouth and Waveney area. Our dedicated space, with access at the side of the hospital, means we’re able to offer the same standard of hospice services and support a large number of people needing specialist palliative care.
“Our dedicated team of staff enables us to look after people with multiple symptoms and provide tailored care to each person, to help improve their overall wellbeing.
“We also have support from a range of volunteers which allows us to provide a welcoming and relaxed space for people to take part in activities and offer the opportunity to socialise and meet new people.”
The service is available once a week, every Tuesday from 10 am to 3pm and includes lunch and refreshments throughout the day.
Referrals are accepted for patients over 18 years of age with a life-limiting or progressive illness. Patients may have unresolved or complex symptoms that cannot be met by their usual health care professional team.
If you are a wanting to refer to this service, please complete the e-referral form available online.