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Help and support for you and your family

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When someone is dying there are a range of services available locally and nationally that can provide support for you and your loved ones.

GPs and community health services

Your GP will be able to discuss your care and also put you in touch with relevant local services.

NHS Wiltshire - find and choose services
NHS Direct - 0845 46 47

Wiltshire Council social care

Social care services in Wiltshire provide assessment, support and services to help people continue to live at home for as long as possible. This includes support to family or friends who may be supporting them in a caring role. As a person’s needs change they may be eligible for Continuing Health Care funding (NHS funding) either at home or another setting.

A series of fact sheets are available that give more detail on a range of services available.

Residential and nursing care

Sometimes it is more appropriate for a person to receive care in a Care Home setting rather than remaining in their own home.

NHS Wiltshire and the Council are working to support Care Homes to be able to continue to care for people until they die if that is their preference and not to be admitted to hospital if this is not necessary.

Hospices

There are three hospices serving the people of Wiltshire, each providing dedicated end-of-life care for patients and compassionate support for their families and friends . Salisbury is in the south of the county, Prospect Hospice in Wroughton , near Swindon and Dorothy House in Winsley, near Bradford-on- Avon.

Hospice care supports people with a life threatening illness and their families and friends in their own homes. Care is based on personal needs, provides relief from pain and distress, and is aimed at a good quality of life in the time that is left.

All hospices have inpatient beds for those requiring 24 hour care to help with distressing symptoms or who wish to die in the hospice, day care and other services depending on the hospice. Hospice staff also work in partnership with colleagues in health and social services in the community, in care homes and in hospital offering advice, support and education. All hospice care is free of charge and funded partly by the NHS and partly by charitable money raised by the hospices.

General information on end of life care

End of life care for children

PALS - The Patient Advice and Liaison Service

The Patient Advice and Liaison Service, known as PALS, has been introduced to make sure that the NHS listens to patients, their relatives, carers and friends, and answers their questions and resolves their concerns as quickly as possible.

Charities

There are many charities that can offer help and support to you and your family if you have become ill. This is only a selection of medical charities and there may be other charities that could offer help or advice.

Charity Contact Details

Alzheimer's Society
  • www.alzheimers.org.uk
  • 0845 300 0336 - the Alzheimer's Society national dementia helpline is usually open from 8.30am to 6.30pm Monday to Friday. However the service may be closed occasionally during these times for operational reasons.
Cancer Research UK
Macmillan Cancer Support
Marie Curie Cancer Care

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
  • www.emphysema-copd.co.uk
  • Breathless with Emphysema and COPD is a site primarily for patients and especially for those suffering from chronic Emphysema, Asthma or Bronchitis, now known as COPD.
British Heart Foundation

HIV / AIDS
  • The Terence Higgins Trust
  • www.tht.org.uk
  • 0845 122 1200 - THT Direct,
    Monday to Friday, 10am - 10pm
    Saturday and Sunday, 12noon - 6pm
British Lung Foundation
  • www.lunguk.org
  • 0845 850 5020 - Monday to Friday, 10am - 6pm (calls charged at your local rate)
Meningitis UK
  • www.meningitisuk.org
  • 0117 373 7373 - Monday to Friday, 9am - 5pm
  • Outside office hours, if your call is urgent, please contact Steve Dayman, Chief Executive on 07946 631830
Mind (National Association for Mental Health)
  • www.mind.org.uk
  • 0300 123 3393 - Mind helplines are open Monday to Friday, 9am - 5pm
Motor Neurone Disease Association
  • www.mndassociation.org
  • 0845 762 6262 - MND Connect, Monday to Friday, 9am - 5pm
  • 0845 762 6262 - Out of Office hours, Monday to Friday, 7pm – 10.30pm
Multiple Sclerosis Society
Stroke Association

Contact Details (LiveLink)

Multiple Contacts: Death and dying- useful contact details and telephone numbers
eMail:
Telephone:
Out of hours:
Fax:
Postal Address:
In Person:
DX:

Last updated: 11 May 2011

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