Supportive care, and community and outpatient services
What we offer
Since the onset of the Covid pandemic, we have been running our social and wellbeing groups online. If you are new to Zoom videoconferencing, fear not! Our team of volunteers will help you get set up and show you how to use the software. It’s very simple. You’ll be sent a link in an email to join a video call which you just click on take part in the meeting.
All our services are provided free of charge, thanks to the generosity of our local community who fundraise to provide most of Martlets’ funding.
Wellbeing activities
Seated yoga
A gentle yoga class via Zoom, open to all ages and all levels of fitness and mobility. Simple moves and slow sequences (with some gentle background music) are all designed to calm the mind and body.
Open to all ages, levels of fitness and mobility.
Relaxation and mindfulness
The practice of mindfulness helps us to ‘step back’ and observe our thoughts without judgement, rather than being dragged along by mind chatter.
During a session we’ll teach you techniques to help work through those moments and to reduce stress and promote relaxation.
Complementary therapies
Martlets’ complementary therapies are given by experienced volunteer therapists who are all fully qualified. Prior to COVID we were offering acupuncture, light touch massage, reflexology, reiki, craniosacral therapy and shiatsu.
The service ceased at the beginning of the pandemic and is currently unavailable until further notice.
Outpatient Services
Ordinarily, Martlets' outpatient services (including the social and wellbeing services listed above) are for terminally ill people living at home who are well enough to attend the Hospice during the day. However, during the COVID pandemic, we have been taking additional steps to ensure we are able to protect our vulnerable patients and our staff. As a result, some of our services have had to change and are being delivered via phone or videoconferencing online.
Who can access outpatient services?
We offer support to anyone in our catchment area, aged 18 or over, who has been diagnosed with a terminal illness. This includes accessing our outpatient clinic to see members of the clinical team. Referrals are accepted from doctors, registered nurses and allied health professionals. If you would like to be referred, please talk to your GP or consultant.
Due to Covid-19 we are not currently offering outpatient appointments at the Hospice but supporting patients via phone calls or videoconferencing. We hope to reopen our outpatient clinic later in 2021.
Rehabilitation service
Our rehabilitation service consists of occupational therapy and physiotherapy. Our team are still conducting home visits to assess patients’ needs and provide mobility equipment. But advice and rehab exercises are being offered via phone and online videos during the pandemic.
Occupational therapy
Our physiotherapists and occupational therapists can help make it easier for you to get about – giving you the power to be more independent.
They can assess your needs, provide mobility equipment, recommend exercises, help with fatigue and breathlessness, and suggest helpful adaptations to your home.
Community services
Community services includes our Clinical Nurse Specialists, Hospice at Home and visiting palliative care doctors.
Please note that from 11 March 2022, our Clinical Nurse Specialist team will be using a priority system to respond to referrals. This will ensure those in most clinical need continue to be seen in a timely way, rather than according to date of referral. We thank you for your understanding.
Clinical Nurse Specialists
Clinical Nurse Specialists support patients in the community with specific palliative care needs. They work alongside your GP and community nurses to provide:
- specialist assessment
- management of complex symptoms
- advice to doctors and nurses involved in your care
- support with complex Advance Care Planning
They may contact you by phone, use videoconferencing or see you at home depending on your level of need.
Not all our patients require this level of specialist support and need is determined during the screening process that follows a referral being made to us.
Hospice at Home
If you've chosen to receive end-of-life care at home, we provide you and your loved ones with exceptional care and support. Our experienced team will make visits and assist with pain management, symptom control and emotional support for you and your family.
Working closely with your GP, community nurses and the specialist doctors at Martlets, our Hospice at Home service provides:
- Symptom management.
- Emotional and social support.
- Referral to other Martlets services where appropriate.
Staying Safe
Our clinical nurse specialists, Hospice at Home team and visiting doctors are still delivering essential care to people at home. They wear full PPE to keep everyone as safe as possible. Ahead of visits, they will ask you questions about how you are feeling. You will also be asked to limit the number of people in the room with you during the visit.
Advice is also available via Martlets’ 24-hour telephone hub to health professionals and patients receiving support from our clinical services.