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Separation from family and familiar surroundings can make serious illness even harder to bear. At St Columba’s, we try to help patients spend as much of their time at home as possible.

Home visits from the six specialist nurses who form the Community Palliative Care Team ensure that patients and their families receive support and advice on a wide range of issues.

Part of their task involves getting to know the patient and family well enough to allow them to talk about how they are feeling, their worries and anxieties.

As well as advising on symptom control, medicines and treatments, the nurses will help to ensure that people are getting the practical help they need, from agencies such as Social Work Home Care.

The Community Palliative Care Team work closely with GPs, District Nurses, and hospital teams, to ensure that patients and their families are getting all the support they need at this difficult time.