Our Community Nursing team will often be the first part of our service that you come into contact with after being referred to us. In this video lead community nurse Phoebe explains a bit more about the community team and their role.
Specialist nursing and medical care
Many of the children we support have very complex symptoms or require support in discussing and planning ongoing care including in some cases end of life care. The specialist palliative care team can provide this support and guidance whether that’s at home, hospice or hospital. Your local specialist team is the SPACE team. There are also several other specialist palliative care teams available including Royal Marsden Hospital, Evelina London Children’s Hospital and Great Ormond Street Hospital.
Community Nursing at Shooting Star Children's Hospices
Nursing support
Nursing care in your home and in hospital
Our community nursing team contact all families whose child has been referred to the hospice, and manage our referrals panel. During the first year with our service, our Community Nurses talk to families about what help and support they would like to access and how they can find this.
You can request support from our Community Nursing Team if your child’s condition changes following a long hospital admission, deterioration or new symptoms. The Community Nursing Team can assess the need and arrange a series of home visits to help and support where needed.
Our Community Nurses also support children and young people who are reaching end of life, working closely with the Community Children’s Nurses, GP and hospital teams, offering a 24/7 service if needed.
Specialist palliative care
Your child may be referred to our SPACE (Specialist Paediatric pAlliative CarE) team by your medical consultants, depending on where you live or by the other specialist support teams your child may be known to, such as The Royal Marsden, Great Ormond Street Hospital or Evelina specialist palliative care teams.
The SPACE team is led by our Medical Director Dr AK Anderson, consultant in Paediatric Palliative Medicine, alongside a team of clinical nurse specialists trained in symptom management.
We provide expert advice over the phone and in person helping with the management of difficult and complex symptoms, or end-of-life care and decision making.
In-house care
Our in-house care is provided by our dedicated team of nurses and health care assistants supported by our GP service that in reaches to the hospice.
Care is provided to children staying for planned and urgent respite, as well as specialist end of life care for children and their families.
Our in-house nurses can be contacted 24-7, and if needed, they’ll be able to support you in thinking about where to access further support.