Living well
Services to help you live well
These clinical services offer one-to-one appointments with one of our multi-professional team – physiotherapy, occupational therapy, complementary therapies and psychology.
This clinical service is for anyone who has a life limiting illness which may be treatable but not curable. This includes those with a cancer diagnosis but also those with later stage respiratory conditions, rare neurological conditions, and those with heart failure. Our medical, nursing and social work service is available for specialist input if required.
Appointments are face-to-face at North London Hospice, Barrowell Green, Enfield and at our Head Office, Barnet or by video or telephone as appropriate. The team also runs some group treatment interventions, which can also run at our new Wood Green Mall Living Well Centre and online. We encourage people to identify what is important to them and to set achievable goals which relate to those things.
Rehabilitation and Self-Management
We encourage patients to live full and independent lives, doing what matters to them and can teach strategies and coping techniques to enable this. Individual and group sessions are available for symptom management, techniques for breathlessness, anxiety, managing fatigue and weakness, mobility and exercise, relaxation and sleep.
Complementary Therapy
We offer patients a short course of complementary therapy to assist in symptom control, aid relaxation and support their wellbeing. Depending on demand this may be available to carers. We currently offer , reiki for healing energy and reflexology using massage to reflex areas in the hands and feet.
Psychological Therapy
We offer a range of creative and talking therapies including , Dramatherapy, Hypnotherapy, Music Therapy and Psychological Therapy including CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy).
Therapies can help with a range of psychological difficulties and emotional issues such as anxiety, depression, sleep, coming to terms with diagnosis, treatment fears, and changes in role and identity.
Clinical Group Activities
Exercise Groups – exercise for various abilities run by physiotherapist weekly, on-line and face-to-face.
Fatigue and Breathlessness Group – five-week group course with a multi-professional team providing support in managing the symptoms of fatigue and breathlessness.
Sleep Group – three-week course looking at common sleep problems and strategies to overcome them and improve sleep.
Falls Group – three-week course devised to help patients prevent falls.
Movement and Wellbeing Group – course for those with a neurological condition exploring functional and expressive movement.
Our Wellbeing Services
In partnership with Compassionate Neighbours and volunteers we run an array of wellbeing groups. All groups are free of charge and are for anyone either living with a life limiting condition or caring for someone who does.
Download our weekly schedule of activities
131 KB PDF file
Symptom Management Service
Who are these services for?
This is for people who are well enough to attend appointments, sometimes on a regular short-term basis, either at Barrowell Green site or our North Finchley site.
What does the service offer?
Our multi professional team provide holistic, person-centred care and support, to enable and optimise quality of life. Our focus is on supporting, encouraging and empowering you to work towards what is important to you. The service can offer support in the following areas:
Our multi professional team provide holistic, person-centred care and support, to enable and optimise quality of life. Our focus is on supporting, encouraging and empowering you to work towards what is important to you. The service can offer support in the following areas:
Non-pharmacological help in managing symptoms
Rehabilitation and self-management – opportunities to improve and maintain fitness and your ability to manage everyday activities. Support to learn skills and strategies to help manage your symptoms such as Fatigue and Breathlessness, anxiety or low self-esteemPsychological, spiritual and emotional issues – time and space to help process feelings and emotions through talking, learning skills or using creative therapies . This aims to make you feel more in control of your life and are able to express your feelings, thoughts and worries.
Complementary therapies – to help manage symptoms, therapies for relaxation and your general wellbeing
- Help with making difficult decisions, starting conversations and planning for the future
All aspects of the service are offered individually or within a group in the format of a short course, single workshop or drop-in sessions. The team will support you in achieving your goals that you identify.
How to refer:
Referrals can be made by any healthcare or local authority professional and we also accept self-referrals to the service
Just phone the The Care Co-ordination Centre on 0800 368 7848 between 09.00 and 17.00 and talk to one of our administrators.
Once a referral has been accepted, you will be offered an appointment with one of the team to discuss your needs and concerns, identify goals and work out a personal programme with you.
For further information please contact the team on: nlondonhospice.op@nhs.net or call 0800 368 7848.
Download information about our courses for managing fatigue and breathlessness
112 KB PDF file
For more information please visit our Therapies and activities page
Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy
Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy are offered across the Finchley and Barrowell Green sites and provide services in:
- The Inpatient Unit
- Living Well Team: in the Boroughs of Barnet Enfield & Haringey
- The Community: in the Boroughs of Barnet and Enfield, visiting you in your own home
- Living Well Centre Wood Green Mall for Barnet, Enfield and Haringey
Main aims
Rehabilitation, Self-Management, Symptom Management & Wellbeing are our main focal points. We aim to assist people to:
- Maintain their independence
- Maximise quality of life
- Work towards their personal goals
- Manage their symptoms & the effects of different treatments
After an initial assessment, patients can be signposted to access the right service to help them. This may be in the form of further one to one sessions or group invitation.
Our services can help with:
Managing Breathlessness
This can include individual assessment of breathlessness and its impact, development of a tailored management programme. We run a course on breathlessness and fatigue management every 3-4 months.
To find out more about managing breathlessness, have a look at these helpful videos from St Christopher’s Hospice.
This can include one to one assessment to establish impact and intensity of fatigue, the therapist can then work with the individual and their family to develop a fatigue management programme. In addition there is the breathlessness and fatigue management group we run every 3-4 months.
Relaxation can be a useful component in managing a range of symptoms; breathlessness, fatigue, pain, anxiety and low mood. It can also be a positive strategy in maintaining good mental health. We can teach relaxation techniques in one-to-one sessions and also run a relaxation course every 3-4 months.
This can include advice and strategies to support managing pain alongside the use of pain medication.
This will include a mobility & or balance assessment with a subsequent tailored management plan, specific to your needs.
We provide advice & education on the management of falls to help reduce this risk for our patients. We also run a falls prevention group which is run according to referral/demand.
This involves one to one assessment of an individuals needs to develop person centred goals. We aim to enable people to function at an optimal level despite barriers. Assessment often happens at home and we can look at what can be modified or adapted to make things easier.
This is one to one support, to enable individuals to overcome barriers to accessing, maintaining or returning to employment or other occupation.
All patients need to be referred to North London Hospice (NLH) using the SPA referral form. Further information regarding referrals and our referral criteria can be found here. Our NLH Care Co-ordination Centre will be able to help with any questions regarding referrals.
Referrals to be seen at home can be made directly to Physiotherapy & Occupational Therapy team and are sometimes made internally by our palliative care Nurses or Doctors following a holistic needs assessment.
Direct referrals can be made to our Fatigue & Breathlessness Course. This is for patients to attend the course only and are not under our clinical care. The course comprises of five, 90-minute sessions that run consecutively over five weeks. The group runs four times a year & can be attended either in person or remotely.
To refer to the course please complete the SPA referral as above and state fatigue and breathlessness course in the reason for referral.
Living Well Services
At North London Hospice, we respect each person’s individuality. We understand that one size doesn’t fit all—and our experience shows that living well with a life-limiting illness can lead to a fuller, better quality and more meaningful life.
Our Living Well services are designed to support people in ways that matter most to them. Whether through one-to-one sessions or group activities, we offer:
- Practical advice and guidance, to better understand your illness / condition, help you to develop coping strategies and techniques to manage a variety of symptoms, building confidence and self-management.
- Opportunities to connect with others who are experiencing similar or the same experiences, trying new activities to support living well.
Our Living Well Centre opened at The Mall in Wood Green in November 2025. We are working to engage with our community to understand their needs and developing a programme of wellbeing support. It is expected that appropriate clinical services will move to this site from April 2026. North London Hospice, Barrowell Green Enfield will remain open for patients who need its environment.
We’re also here for families, friends and carers. Our support groups provide a safe space to connect, share, and find strength—helping carers feel less alone and better equipped to care for their loved ones without becoming overwhelmed. This is in addition to individual Patient and Family Support.
Patient group support
- Fatigue and Breathlessness – 5-week programme, including breathing techniques and pacing
- Relaxation – 6-week programme, focusing on relieving anxiety and improving sleep
- Music for life – in person
- Exercise – online and in person for rehabilitation and fitness
- Gardening – online gardening group
- Reading round – literature review
- Photography
- Mindfulness for Wellbeing
- Knitting and Crochet Club
- Games Group
Individual patient support
- Physiotherapy
- Complementary therapies – Reiki, Hypnotherapy
- Psychological therapies – Talking therapies, CBT & Drama therapy
Family and Carer Support Groups
In partnership with Compassionate Neighbours we run an array of wellbeing groups. All groups are free of charge and are for anyone with a life limiting condition or caring for someone with a lifelimiting conditiond. Check here for our weekly schedule of activities.
Access
If you would like to know more or are interested in accessing any of these services, please ring 0800 368 7848 and select Option 3 or email the team at nlondonhospice.op@nhs.net.
You might also be interested in
Get a referral
The Care Co-ordination Centre is your access point for all referrals to North London Hospice.
Compassionate Neighbours
A lifeline for people with life-limiting illnesses who are socially isolated and/or lonely, Compassionate Neighbours offers friendship and a listening ear to people who would like some informal social and emotional support in the community.
Let's keep in touch.
