Hospice expands Out of Hours Nursing Care at Home service to support more patients
Southern Area Hospice (SAH) has expanded its Out of Hours Nursing Care at Home service.
Previously available only to cancer patients, the service will now accept referrals for all palliative care patients.
SAH’s Out of Hours Nursing Care at Home service has been running since July 2023 and operates in the BT35 and greater Newry City area. It provides essential assistance to patients and their families during nighttime hours, ensuring care and comfort at home.
The service focuses on symptom management while also providing guidance, reassurance, and emotional support to patients’ loved ones at a particularly vulnerable time.
Initially, the service was restricted to cancer patients due to funding received from cancer charities. This funding made the service possible but ended in November 2024. Following a review, the decision was made to expand the service to all palliative conditions
and widen the referral criteria, ensuring more patients and families can benefit from this vital support.
Bernie Farrell, Community Services Manager at Southern Area Hospice, commented: “This service has already been a lifeline for many, and by increasing its reach, we can provide even greater comfort, reassurance, and specialist care to more individuals when it is needed most. Our dedicated Hospice nurses will continue to be there to ease concerns, manage symptoms, and offer essential guidance to carers and loved ones, ensuring no one feels alone during these critical moments."
Liz Cuddy, Chief Executive of Southern Area Hospice, said: "At Southern Area Hospice, we are committed to providing the highest standard of care to patients and their families when they need it most.
"The expansion of our Out of Hours Nursing Care at Home service is a vital step in ensuring that compassionate, specialist care is available beyond traditional hours, offering reassurance and support to those facing life-limiting illnesses.
"This development reflects our ongoing dedication to improving access to hospice care, ensuring patients receive comfort and dignity at every stage of their journey."
Southern Area Hospice’s Out of Hours Nursing Care at Home service can accept referrals from a patient’s GP, Community Specialist Palliative Care Team, District Nursing Team, SAH Inpatient Unit, or a Hospital Nurse Specialist. For more information, visit www.southernareahospiceservices.org/out-of-hours-nursing-care-at-home.