ST Clare Hospice’s Hospice at Home service launched in January 2014. Since then, the team have cared for more than 4,000 patients and their families in the comfort of their own home, in West Essex. 

The team of registered nurses and nursing assistants provide free, compassionate care for people at the end of their life in the comfort of their own home.

In 2020/21 the Hospice at Home team provided support for more than 780 patients. The team spent approximately 1,400 hours each month ensuring that patients, families and their carers received compassionate care, at the right time and in the right place. 

The Hospice at Home team also deliver a night-sitting service. Last year they spent 730 nights caring for more than 200 end of life patients in their own home. The night-sitting Hospice at Home nursing assistants watch over end of life patients making sure they are comfortable in their own home. This means their usual carers are able to take a small break, get a little sleep and recharge. 

“We work closely with local GPs, District Nurses, social and voluntary sector professionals. This makes sure our patients receive co-ordinated care,” explains Sonia Haigh, Hospice at Home service manager. “Our Hospice at Home care is helping to avoid unnecessary hospital admissions. We provide short-term care to get people out of hospital more quickly. And we are making sure people are able to spend the last weeks of their life in the comfort of their own home. 

“Our service has never been more needed. Increasingly people are choosing to be cared for in their own home. Providing this support means that we’re honouring people’s choices and relieving pressure on the NHS. 

“Our kind and caring nurses and nursing assistants are helping to keep families together and making memories even right at the end of life. Home is special. Being able to provide our specialist palliative care to people in the comfort of their own home is a real honour for us in the Hospice at Home team.”

All health, social and voluntary care professionals can make a referral. This includes GPs, District Nurses, Clinical Nurse Specialists, social care or hospital teams. Patients, their family, or carer can also refer themselves directly. The team will then need to discuss the referral with the patient’s GP. For more information visit: stclarehospice.org.uk/hospice-home

St Clare Hospice at Home Nurse team leaders work from 8am to 8pm. They assess and allocate Night Service referrals on a daily basis.

If you’re not sure if the person you are referring is eligible for Hospice at Home care, just call:

01279 773716             Hospice at Home team (8am-8pm) 
01279 773774             First Contact Service 

01279 773773             24 Hour Advice Line