Care at home
Who we are
We are a specialist team of healthcare professionals working in the community - including nurses and doctors, alongside Patient and Family Services which includes social workers. We also offer physiotherapy and occupational therapy. Our work complements that of GPs, district nurses, social services and hospital teams.
We also offer expert support and advice to a patient’s family and carers as well as other health professionals.
Our aim is to help patients live life to the full, to treat people as individuals and respect their personal beliefs, lifestyle and culture. We want patients and carers to achieve the best quality of life possible for as long as possible.
Our specialist service includes:
Support with monitoring and management of symptoms as a result of illness, such as pain
Support for patients to remain in their preferred place of care and facilitate end-of-life care at home
Help with any anxieties or concerns that patients, carers and families (including children) may have
Help to put plans in place for care or treatment that might be needed in the future
Information about additional help that may be available e.g. care at home, housing and financial matters
Bereavement care and support
Help with navigating the community services available
How the community teams work
Following assessment, we discuss a plan together of what we think we can offer or what the patient/family think we can support with. This may be in clinic or in your own home.
The community teams share case loads so patients may be seen by different members of the team during the period of care.
Our nurses visit people in their homes seven days a week between 9am-5pm and we can also offer clinic appointments . We can be contacted for clinical advice during these hours.
If the situation with a patient’s health changes, and a re-referral is received by North London Hospice, and deemed appropriate by our triage service, we will arrange for that patient to be assessed again.
Please note that we share relevant medical information with other healthcare professionals.
An out of hours telephone advice service is available from 5pm-8am on 020 8152 3252.
The service is available to people over 18 who are registered with a GP in the London Boroughs of Barnet, Enfield and Haringey.
If you would like more details or would like to make a referral, please get in touch with our First Contact Team
“Thank you to the whole palliative care team for the wonderful way you looked after my wife while she was at home. You were extremely kind and efficient and enabled us both to cope in a way we could never have imagined possible.”
Palliative Care Support Service (PCSS)
Providing carers and registered nurses to people at homeThe Palliative Care Support Service (PCSS) is a team of Registered Nurses and Healthcare Assistants who provide hands-on nursing care at home for people at the end of their lives and for those who require short-term support to help them through a crisis. The service is provided and managed by North London Hospice.
Prior to all home care bookings being made we will ask screening questions to assess the current situation. Our PCSS service is limited and, at times, allocations will need to prioritised based on care needs.
When someone is approaching the end-of-life and would prefer to be at home for their last few days, PCSS may be able to provide additional care to help this happen. It can also help to avoid unnecessary hospital admission when families are feeling overwhelmed. The care is usually provided overnight between 10pm and 7am.
The Nurses and Health Care Assistants are trained to give care to end-of-life patients and patients with progressive illness. They offer practical care such as washing, toileting, assisting the family and providing emotional and spiritual support.
Registered nurses can also administer medications to manage symptoms. Health Care Assistants, although unable to administer medication, can contact other professionals such as district nurses or the hospice for advice.
“Knowing that my community nurse is coming to visit me gives me the feeling that I have something to hold on to and that someone really cares.”
