Community Services

Community Palliative Care Nurses
(also known as Macmillan nurses)

Community Palliative Care nurses are clinical nurse specialists (CNS) who are experts in pain and symptom control. They give emotional support and practical advice to patients and families, from diagnosis onwards and provide this support through home visits. 

 
As a patient at the Hospice you will have an initial assessment to see if you would benefit from the services of a Community Palliative CNS and this will be re-evaluated as your needs change. The Community Palliative CNS is often the patient's main point of contact and acts as a link between all the health and social care professionals working with you within the Hospice and externally. They can offer advice and access to other services, such as occupational therapists or counsellors (which may be offered at the Hospice), but they will liaise with your GP and Social Services too.  They have regular meetings with the hospital oncology consultants to discuss treatment issues and often take questions asked by their patients to these meetings.

FAQ – Can the Community Palliative CNS change my medication?
Yes, they do advise GPs and make suggestions as to which medications might be most suitable for people who are suffering from symptoms such as various types of pain, nausea, constipation and other conditions that may arise. The GP is involved in the decision making process and is ultimately responsible for prescribing the medication. 

FAQ – Does the Community Palliative CNS have to tell my mother she has cancer?
Sometimes families are informed of the diagnosis and prognosis of a patient without that person being involved. As specialist palliative care nurses, Mac nurses acknowledge the concerns of the family and recognize that they are only trying to protect their loved one. However, if the patient asks, they will tell them what is wrong in a gentle but honest manner.
They are always led by the patient although they recognise and take into consideration the family concerns. Very often the patient already knows that they have cancer but have also been trying to protect others by not discussing it.