Giving our patients the best possible assistance for their individual circumstances

Our doctors are palliative medicine specialists and as such are at the fore front of palliative medicine developments. They offer the latest advice on medication, pain and symptom control including treatment options and implications, giving a patient the best possible information on the options for their own individual circumstances and symptoms. This can mean the difference between being able to manage their symptoms and staying in their own homes or having to go into a hospital or hospice. Our doctors can discuss with patients the expectations for their health, and plan their health care with them, including discussing topics such as advance care plans and resuscitation.

Our doctors include Dr Margred Capel (our clinical lead), Dr James Davies, Dr Bethan Jones, Dr Fiona Rawlinson and a Specialist Registrar.

Finding out you have an illness, such as cancer, that requires specialist palliative care can be overwhelming.  It can be difficult to understand what is happening to you.

At City Hospice, we have a team of Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNS), led by our lead nurse, Terri Gazi. Our Clinical Nurse Specialists visit patients in their own homes, throughout Cardiff, and explain and offer tailored advice on physical symptom control and treatments, as well as offering psychological and emotional support.  By answering questions, patients and families can feel much more in control in situations where they may often be feeling helpless.

Our Clinical Nurse Specialists also carry out patient reviews at our Hospice centre during our patient day centre services, and train other local professionals in palliative care. They also work closely with patients’ GP, District Nurse and hospital team. Patients can access our Social Worker, Welfare Advice Worker, Counsellor, or any other staff member, to ensure you get all the help you need, when you need it, for as long as you need it.

Palliative care aims to treat or manage pain and other physical symptoms.  It will also help with any psychological, social or spiritual needs. Palliative care includes caring for people who are near the end of life.

The goal of palliative care is to help the patient and everyone affected by their illness to achieve the best quality of life. People can receive palliative care alongside other treatments such as chemotherapy or radiotherapy.

Your allocated Clinical Nurse Specialist will be able to advise you on appropriate symptom control measures.

Our Occupational Therapist assesses our patients’ daily activities with a view to improving or maintaining their independence and dignity including household tasks and personal care.  We can provide patient equipment, such as grab rails, hoists, ramps and shoe horns. Shoe horns may not immediately spring to mind but part of keeping a patients’ independence is the ability to put their own shoes on, to be able to leave their home to go get the paper and pint of milk.

We offer advice and recommend alterations to patients’ homes with the focus always on keeping the independence and dignity of our patients and keeping them in their homes.

As part of this, our Occupational Therapist runs a day therapy services so patients can to learn strategies and techniques to manage their symptoms. Being able to share their experiences (and tips) with other patients going through similar experiences can be an emotional support to some patients who otherwise feel isolated and that they are the only one experiencing these daily struggles.

Although family and friends can be a great comfort, you may be feeling or thinking things you just don’t feel you can say to them. Or you might need some additional support to help you come to terms with what you are facing. That’s why our Patient counselling service is so important. If you feel you might benefit from one to one counselling and support from our trained counsellors, please discuss it with your Clinical Nurse Specialist who will arrange it for you. This service is provided entirely free of charge.

Your welfare is important. We want to help you maintain your independence for as long as possible.  Our social worker, Andrew Wade, works closely with Cardiff Council and voluntary agencies to help arrange formal Care Packages, sitting services or respite care for your family.  He can also inform/liaise about Direct Payments if you want more choice about the care provided. He can also ‘signpost’ care agencies if you want to pay privately and explain about Continuing Health Care. He can also help solve housing problems or arrange for Meals on Wheels or Community Alarms as needed.  He can also advise on a range of practical, legal, transport, leisure and educational activities. As well as funeral information. Andrew can also give advice and guidance concerning admission to residential or nursing homes.

Unfortunately, serious illness can bring money worries too.  Often people don’t know where to begin when they are looking for help with their finances. Our Welfare Advice Advisor, Katie, can help you and your family access whatever financial support you are entitled to, including out of work benefits, sickness benefits and carers benefits.  She can also help you with housing or debt problems, obtaining Blue Badges and other local services to help you remain independent at home.  Whatever you need, Katie can help take some of the burden from you, help with forms, liaising with other agencies and advocating on your behalf.

City Hospice is able to offer our patients a free Will writing service, paid for by City Hospice.

We are pleased to be working with four of Cardiff’s top solicitors to provide this service: Wendy Hopkins Family Law, Watkins & Gunn, Foleys and HCB Solicitors.

We can also advice/assist you in applying for Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA).

If you have any questions, please contact our Welfare Rights Advisor, Katie Tucker or Social Worker, Andrew Wade on 029 2052 4158 or email info@cityhospice.org.uk

If you need to talk about faith or spiritual matters, we can refer you to our Chaplain, Rev. Kathy Gale, who is able to visit you at home or can see you at City Hospice (she attends Day Centre every Thursday afternoon). She can also liaise with faith and non-faith leaders of other organisations.