The palliative care service aims to improve the quality of life for patients and their families facing the problems associated with life-limiting illnesses. The philosophy of this service is to identify, assess and treat pain and other symptoms which may have physical, emotional, social and spiritual components.

The service offers specialist palliative care, irrespective of diagnosis, based on clinical need, in the chosen location of the patient wherever possible and offers care and support to families and carers, including end of life care and bereavement support.

Specialists services within palliative care include:

Inpatients at Florence Nightingale Hospice, Stoke Mandeville
The service has 11 palliative care inpatient beds and one day-case bed at the hospice. Referrals for admission are accepted from health or social care professionals for patients with specialist palliative care needs requiring:

• Pain and symptom management
• End of life care
• Day case treatments (that would normally take place in a hospital setting, for example blood transfusion)
• Re-assessment and re-evaluation
• Ongoing care planning
• Occupational and physiotherapy assessments as appropriate

The unit is for short-term placements and the demand for this service means that we are unable to offer any long-term care.

Advice and admissions are available 24 hours a day.

Day hospice
Based at Florence Nightingale Hospice, the day hospice offers individual care through therapeutic treatments, pain and symptom relief, psychological and spiritual support. It also provides a social setting for patients to learn new skills, reminisce and share their personal worries.

The day hospice can take up to 12 patients a day, four days a week. New patients are assessed by the clinical team on Tuesdays and then offered a 12 week goal orientated placement if appropriate. The placement can be extended if needed.

In addition, the hospice runs a 12 week programme for patients with chronic lung disease and heart failure called the David White Group. Patients are taught to understand the holistic nature of their breathing problems and how to develop new coping mechanisms to improve their quality of life.

Community specialist palliative care service
There are two specialist palliative care teams based at Florence Nightingale Hospice and the Marlow Health Centre.

Experienced and highly trained clinical nurse specialists offer advice, support, and symptom control to patients and their families and carers, helping them to remain at home for as long as they wish. This initially involves visiting patients in their own home and assessing the most appropriate form of ongoing support, either by telephone or home visit. The team works closely with other health professionals including district nurses, GPs, hospital and other hospice staff to provide a seamless level of care for each patient.

Lymphoedema service
The Lymphoedema clinic, based at Florence Nightingale Hospice, treats patients who experience immobility and physical discomfort from swollen limbs due to primary or secondary lymphatic damage.

After specialist assessment, ongoing treatment might include skin care, exercises, compression bandaging, provision of garments and massage. Appointments are predominantly clinic based but may be offered at home in certain circumstances. The service operates during normal office hours.

Allied health professional
This team comprises a physiotherapist, occupational therapist, chaplain and therapy assistant/discharge facilitator. They assess and treat patients with specialist palliative care needs in all areas of the service. They are also a source of specialist advice to other healthcare professionals.

Medical team
The medical team offers specialist palliative medical care throughout the service. The team also offers outpatient appointments and domiciliary visits, as well as medical support to the hospital team on the Stoke Mandeville site. The team offers a 24 hour advice line for health care professionals across all settings.

Bereavement service
Managed from Florence Nightingale Hospice, trained volunteer bereavement listeners offer support to families and carers following the death of a loved one. A specially trained team offer bereavement support to children facing the loss of siblings, parents or grandparents. Listeners provide time when it is mutually convenient with the bereaved client.

Childrens’ hospice at home
Based at Florence Nightingale Hospice, this team offers respite care at home to children and families with life-limiting illnesses. It comprises both qualified nurses and experienced healthcare assistants and offers individually tailored care, adapted to the child and family’s needs.

The Florence Nightingale Hospice can be contacted on 01296 332600. Other names for the service include: The Hospice; The Aylesbury Hospice; Florence Nightingale House; Flo House and Macmillan nurses.