What is Hospice Palliative Care?
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 The Canadian Hospice Palliative Care
Association defines hospice palliative care as
a special kind of health care for individuals
and families who are living with a lifethreatening illness that is usually at an
advanced stage.
 The goal of palliative care is comfort and
dignity for the person living with the illness, as
well as the best quality of life for both this
person and his or her family.
 A "family" means whoever the person
considers to be family. It may include
relatives, partners and friends.
Care at Home
More than half of the people registered with
North Shore Palliative care choose to die at
home, close to family, friends and familiar
surroundings.
Although we have strong partnerships with the
Home & Community Care Nurses and
other home support services, we do not
have the benefit of a Palliative Response
team.
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History of Macmillan Nurses
 In 1911, a young man named Douglas
Macmillan watched his father die of cancer.
 Douglas wanted advice and information to
be provided to all people with cancer, homes
for patients at low or no cost, and voluntary
nurses to attend to patients in their own
homes.
 In 1911 he established the 'Society for the
Prevention and Relief of Cancer', providing
information on recognising, preventing and
treating cancer to patients, doctors and
members of the public.
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1924- It became a Benevolent Society changing name to 'National Society
for Cancer Relief', providing practical help to patients and their families.
1930- First paid member of staff is appointed.
1969- began to support in-patient care, making first contributions towards
building hospices.
1975- first Macmillan nurse and Macmillan cancer care unit funded
1978- 10th Macmillan Nurse funded.
1986- 1st Macmillan Doctor funded.
1989- Name changed to 'Cancer Relief Macmillan Fund'.
1991- Macmillan Nurse Appeal launched to raise £20 million.
1993- 1000th Macmillan Nurse appointed.
1997- changed name to 'Macmillan Cancer Relief‘. Information Line
opens.
1998- Macmillan National Institute of Education (MNIE) opens, with 10
lecturers for training specialist cancer care professionals.
The Information Line helps more than 11,000 people during its first
year of operation.
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2006- Name changed to Macmillan Cancer Support.
Macmillan Nurses in UK
For many people affected by cancer,
Macmillan nurses are a valued and
trusted source of expert information,
advice and support - free of charge.
There are over 3000 Macmillan nurses
across the UK, working both in
hospitals and in the community.
99% of the funding is from supporters of
the campaign.
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Funding for Macmillan support
Macmillan nurses are usually employed
by the NHS and their posts are funded
by Macmillan for a set time, commonly
the first three years.
After that time, the long-term funding is
taken up by the NHS or other partner
organisations.
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What do Macmillan Nurses do?
Macmillan nurses specialise in cancer and palliative care, providing
support and information to people with cancer, and their families,
friends and caregivers. Macmillan nurses offer the following:
 specialized pain and symptom control & emotional support
both for the patient and their family and/or caregiver
 give care in a variety of settings – in hospital (both inpatient
and outpatient), at home or residential setting.
 provide information about cancer treatments and side effects
 offer advice to other members of the caring team, for
example district nurses and Residential Care nurses
 co-ordinate care between hospital and the patient's home
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 Macmillan nurses do not carry out routine
nursing tasks, such as personal hygiene,
changing dressings and giving medicines.
 Macmillan focuses mainly on people affected
by cancer but are increasingly sharing
experience and working with colleagues
caring for people with other conditions and do
therefore provide some support for noncancer patients
 Macmillan nurses usually work normal office
hours.
 The service is 90% pro-active as opposed to
reactive
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A ‘Community Centred Hospice’
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 Patients generally consider that hospices are the
end-of-line.
 Our aim To build the idea that Hospice promotes living
life and making every moment count.
 To be seen as experts at creating healing
environments for palliative care.
 To ensure that our clinical environments include
the essential supportive services needed to
meet personal, emotional and practical needs,
as well as treating the medical symptoms.
Our Aim
To offer a clinical, educational and
advisory resource, which
appropriately meets the assessed
needs of the local population.
To provide accessible, auditable and
accountable end of life care,
reflecting evidence-based practice.
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Our Goal
To provide specialist care to patients,
caregivers and families who are facing
complex physical, emotional and practical
difficulties arising from advanced progressive
life-limiting illness.
We believe in respecting the individual's dignity
and choices and enhance the quality of care
for patients in all care settings through
partnership, collaboration, advice and
education.
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An innovative approach
Our aim is to bring Community and
Hospital together within the Hospice.
Community Nurses and Hospital Nurses
will rotate through the North Shore
Hospice. For the first time they will work
side by side; sharing and collaborating.
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Recognition
We recognize that our greatest
resource is our highly trained and
skilled workforce and the community
of volunteers and supporters who
have together developed the strong
sense of shared ownership enabling
us to excel.
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