District Nurses
The District Nurse (sometimes called the community nurse) organises and coordinates home care. They carry out an assessment of your needs in consultation with you and your carer, and can arrange for a range of services to be provided to you. These vary from area to area but can include Marie Curie Nurses, Macmillan Nurses, social services, sitters or meals on wheels.
The District Nurse can also provide you with information about local services such as carers’ groups, your local hospice, drop-in centres, organisations offering grants, complementary therapy practitioners, interpreting services and other relevant services and benefits.
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GP and Primary Health Care Team
The Primary Health Care Team is a team of healthcare professionals and is usually based in a health centre or surgery. Your GP will liaise with the District Nurse, who is part of the team, regarding your care if you are being cared for at home. The GP is in charge of your medical care such as writing prescriptions and changing the dosage of drugs.
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Macmillan Nurses
Macmillan Nurses are specialist nurses in cancer treatment and care, supporting people with cancer from the time they are diagnosed. They offer emotional support and practical advice to people with cancer and their families in the UK. They are highly trained in managing pain and other symptoms.
Macmillan Nurses work with and advise the District Nurse or Primary Care Team.
A Macmillan Nurse usually spends up to an hour with each patient, and does not generally provide physical or nursing care unless the need arises during a visit.
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The difference between Marie Curie Nurses and Macmillan or other Specialist Nurses
Marie Curie Nurses care for people who are seriously ill with cancer and other life threatening conditions, usually in the last few months or weeks of their lives. Macmillan Nurses care for people with cancer from when they are first diagnosed.
Marie Curie Nurses will generally spend several hours at a time in a patient’s home providing practical nursing care, often overnight. Macmillan Nurses will usually spend up to an hour with each patient providing practical advice and emotional support.
In some areas of the UK, Marie Curie Cancer Care employs Specialist Nurses who work in a similar way to Macmillan Nurses.
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Physiotherapist / occupational therapist
A physiotherapist or occupational therapist can help with mobility problems or breathing problems and can provide walking frames and other equipment. Equipment can also be borrowed from the Red Cross via the therapist, or you can approach the Red Cross directly.
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Hospices
Hospices provide expert palliative and respite care. Many hospices (both Marie Curie Hospices and those run by others) offer not only in-patient care but also day centres where you can go for recreation or rehabilitation. Staff are experts at caring for people with cancer and other life threatening conditions, and specialist nurses are often available to give advice and support in your home. Ask your GP or District Nurse if there is a Marie Curie Hospice or other hospice near you, and whether they think a referral would help.
The charity, Hospice Information, can tell you where your nearest hospice is and provide you with other general hospice information. Please see the Further information: Hospices and care centres section for contact details.
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