Southern Area Hospice Marks One Year of its Out of Hours On-Call Nursing Service at Home | Newry News
Southern Area Hospice (SAH) is marking the first anniversary of its Out of Hours (OOH) On-Call Nursing Service, which provides end-of-life care to patients who have a cancer diagnosis 365 days a year.
Launched in July 2023, the service has supported 47 patients and their families.
It helps with symptom management for the patient and offers advice and reassurance to the patient’s family and loved ones.
SAH nurses are available on-call to provide support by telephone or by phone, or they can come to patients’ homes.
The service employs a team of Hospice nurses and has been rolled out in the BT35 postcode and the greater Newry City area.
It is an additional resource working alongside and in partnership with the voluntary sector and Southern Health and Social Care Trust partner agencies for palliative patients at the end of life.
The service operates on an on-demand basis, and this year, it was accessed 238 nights by 47 patients.
Feedback from families has been very encouraging with 100% reporting:
Improvement of physical symptoms of the patient
Improved emotional well-being of patient and family
Ability to manage stress and anxiety
Bernie Farrell, Community Services Manager at SAH, says, “The Out of Hours On-Call Nursing Service is provided in the person’s home delivering nursing care, advice, reassurance and symptom management for patients who are in the last days of their lives.
“Families often describe feelings of vulnerability, isolation and fear during the nighttime period when there are limited services available.
“Our service ensures that they have access to a highly skilled hospice nurse during the darkest and most challenging hours of their lives.”
A family member who was supported by the Out of Hours On-Call Nursing Service comments, “I don’t know what I would have done without this amazing service, the nurse that was with us when Dad died was amazing and supported us. I don’t know how I can thank the Hospice enough.”
Another family member comments, “We couldn’t have done without the nurse. One night, she was out four times. She seemed to be there in minutes and knew exactly what to do. I felt so supported.”
The Southern Area Hospice’s Out of Hours Nursing Service operates from 10 pm until 8 am.
Access to the service is via district nurses, specialist palliative care nurses or GPs.
Further information about this service is available on Southern Area Hospice’s website: www.southernareahospiceservices.org/out-of-hours-nursing-care-at-home
The OOH Nursing Service is part-funded by the Department of Health’s Cancer Charities’ Support Fund and is administered by the Community Foundation NI.
To donate to Southern Area Hospice to support the Out of Hours On-Call Nursing Service and other services, please visit www.southernareahospiceservices.org or call (028) 3026 7711.
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