Hospices
Hospices are places which specialise in the care of people living and dying with cancer or other progressive illnesses such as, heart failure or respiratory disease. They can offer a wide range of services such as complementary therapies, counselling, spiritual care, and bereavement support. They are expert at controlling pain and other symptoms and also supporting the patient and their family. Their philosophy is to enable dying people to live in physical and emotional comfort with personal dignity until their death.
Hospices are smaller and quieter than hospitals. They can tailor their care to suit each person and people can often go into hospices for short periods for their symptoms to be managed and monitored and then return home.
You can find out more about your local hospice from your community nurse or other health professionals involved in your care.
More information about the hospice nearest to you can be found on the Help the Hospices website.