Helping you get the most out of life

When you are first referred to our care, you may be visited by one of our clinical nurse specialists or doctors. They will assess your symptoms and can refer you to other teams within Phyllis Tuckwell, to offer you support tailored to your needs.  

Some people may need help with mobility or muscle strength, be experiencing symptoms such as nausea, breathlessness or anxiety, or need support with practical matters such as applying for benefits or a blue badge. The team can offer advice and guidance on medical, nursing, emotional and practical matters, provide physical and psychological care, and offer therapies and treatments, for you and your family and carers.  

By providing this specialist care, we can help you to manage complex symptoms, cope with changes, improve your wellbeing and remain as independent as possible, for as long as possible.  

Spending last days at home

We also care for very ill patients who have chosen to spend their last days, and to die, in the comfort and familiarity of their own home or care home. They find it reassuring to be in their own environment, where they feel comfortable and relaxed. 

Our compassionate team of nurses and health care assistants provide specialist, individualised and compassionate end of life nursing and personal care for patients during this time, to support their wishes to die at home. They can refer patients for additional support if needed, from other teams within Phyllis Tuckwell, and work collaboratively with healthcare professionals from the NHS to support rapid discharge from hospital, help reduce unplanned hospital admissions and ensure that the care patients receive is joined up and seamless. 

Within the team, we have a small group of experienced health care assistants (HCAs) who can provide planned overnight care in your home. Knowing that a clinical professional is in the house overnight can be reassuring and can help your relatives and carers to get a good night’s sleep. 

Providing co-ordinated care 

So that we can provide safe, seamless care, your clinical information will be shared between the relevant health and social care professionals involved in your care, on a need-to-know basis. All information is kept securely, and is treated confidentially and respectfully.  

You are entitled to state if you do not wish your information to be shared, but this may affect the care you receive. The privacy policy on our website contains further details on how your information is shared. 

Volunteer-led home support

To enable patients to stay at home, sometimes for much longer than would otherwise be possible, we also provide volunteer support to patients and their families in their own homes through our Home Support (HS) service. 

This could include assistance with shopping, ironing, taking the patient on outings, helping with their children, accompanying the patient on hospital visits or simply allowing the carer a few hours break. An HS volunteer is often described as a "good friend" by many of the HS patients - someone who will listen and befriend. 

The HS volunteers work closely with Phyllis Tuckwell's clinical nurse specialists and Patient & Family Support team to provide a seamless service, dedicated to supporting patients and their families at an extremely difficult point in their lives.

If you'd like to help and are interested in becoming a Home Support volunteer, please see our Volunteering page for an application form or email voluntary.services@pth.org.uk