Southern Area Hospice Expands ‘Out of Hours Nursing Care at Home’ Service to Support More Patients

Southern Area Hospice (SAH) has expanded its Out of Hours Nursing Care at Home service. Previously available only to cancer patients, the service will now accept referrals for all palliative care patients.

SAH’s Out of Hours Nursing Care at Home service has been running since July 2023 and operates in the BT35 and greater Newry City area. It provides essential assistance to patients and their families during nighttime hours, ensuring care and comfort at home. The service focuses on symptom management while also providing guidance, reassurance, and emotional support to patients’ loved ones at a particularly vulnerable time.

The Out of Hours Nursing Care at Home service was a pilot funded by the Cancer Charities Support Fund for cancer patients. Following a review of the pilot and its success, the hospice has now decided to expand the service to all palliative conditions and widen the referral criteria. It is now funded directly by the hospice. SAH hopes to expand the service beyond the greater Newry and BT35 area, however this is dependent on securing more funding.

Bernie Farrell, Community Services Manager at Southern Area Hospice, commented:
"We are proud to enhance our Out of Hours Nursing Care at Home service, strengthening the vital support available to palliative patients and their families during the nighttime hours. This service has already been a lifeline for many, and by increasing its reach, we can provide even greater comfort, reassurance, and specialist care to more individuals when it is needed most. Our dedicated Hospice nurses will continue to be there to ease concerns, manage symptoms, and offer essential guidance to carers and loved ones, ensuring no one feels alone during these critical moments."

SAH’s Out of Hours Nursing Care at Home service is delivered by a team of experienced Hospice nurses and covers the BT35 postcode and greater Newry City area. It is designed to complement and collaborate with voluntary sector partners and the Southern Health and Social Care Trust to enhance end-of-life care for palliative patients.

Liz Cuddy, Chief Executive of Southern Area Hospice, said:
"At Southern Area Hospice, we are committed to providing the highest standard of care to patients and their families when they need it most. The expansion of our Out of Hours Nursing Care at Home service is a vital step in ensuring that compassionate, specialist care is available beyond traditional hours, offering reassurance and support to those facing life-limiting illnesses. This development reflects our ongoing dedication to improving access to hospice care, ensuring patients receive comfort and dignity at every stage of their journey."

Southern Area Hospice’s Out of Hours Nursing Care at Home service can accept referrals from a patient’s GP, Community Specialist Palliative Care Team, District Nursing Team, SAH Inpatient Unit, or a Hospital Nurse Specialist.

For more information, visit www.southernareahospiceservices.org/out-of-hours-nursing-care-at-home.