Supportive Care Services

Family and Patient Support Services

We provide psychological and emotional support to our patients, carers and their families during their life limiting illness and beyond. We work flexibly and creatively with individuals or families, at their own pace, by telephone, online or in face-to-face sessions.

We support young families when faced with the life limiting diagnosis of a parent or loved one, our role may be to support parents and guardians to have difficult and often tender conversations with their children and young people. Families find early access to our guidance, information and resources helpful, so that the children can be gently helped to understand and adjust to life changing events.

Sometimes the work involves seeing children and young people individually, which offers them a secure and contained space to explore their thoughts and feelings. Where needed, this therapeutic relationship and support may continue into the bereavement. We can also link with schools and other professionals, at the family’s request to enhance this support.

In bereavement, we provide opportunities for young families to come together to share their experience and support. If you feel you or your family would benefit from our input, please speak to your hospice nurse or professional, or contact the Family & Patient Support Team

The Carer and Patient Support offers regular one-to-one support for patients with life limiting illnesses and those caring for them.

We provide a listening ear where feelings and concerns can be shared in a safe space, we can also help you explore what is important to you, now, and in the future.

We recognise the importance of supporting carers alongside the patient and understand that it can be difficult to know how to manage feelings and adapt to a new, or continually changing, routine.

Bereavement Support Services

St Margaret’s offer a range of services for bereaved families, friends, carers and the professionals who support them.

Bereavement is a very individual experience and there is no right or wrong way to grieve. Coping with the death of a loved one can be a painful and difficult time, when unexpected thoughts and feelings may cause distress or confusion.

Following a death, the support of friends and family is often all that is needed, but there may also be times when you can feel emotionally overwhelmed which can cause everyday life to feel harder to cope with and this is where the bereavement service can offer you appropriate support.

Sometimes bereaved people find they really miss the support they received when their loved one was being cared for either in the hospice or at home. The bereavement support service aims to provide a safe confidential space within which people can explore their grief and feelings and discuss any concerns they may have. One of the intentions is that, with support, those struggling with their grief can move forward into a positive and healthy future.