If you’re a healthcare professional who’s referred your patient to Marie Curie’s Hospice Care at Home service, find information on what to expect, how to prepare for the visit and how to cancel if necessary.
What your patient can expect
Once a patient has been referred to the Hospice Care at Home service, we'll send them an information pack explaining everything they need to know about the care they can expect to receive.
This includes practical information and advice for patients and their carers, as well as details on how to contact us to make comments or suggestions about their care.
What you need to do before the visit
We want the visit to run as smoothly as possible. To help us achieve this, please follow the steps below.
1.Leave an up-to-date nursing care plan at the patient’s home.
2.Check medication, prescription chart and anticipatory prescription are available – as well as syringes, needles and sharps box as appropriate.
3.Continue to take responsibility for the ongoing risk assessment of your patient’s needs; your patient’s moving and handling needs; as well as the safety of the working environment.
4.Prepare the patient and carer for the visit by:
- outlining the role of the Marie Curie Nurse or Senior Healthcare Assistant
- informing them that the Marie Curie Nurse or Senior Healthcare Assistant will phone CommuniCare, our lone worker security system, on arrival and departure. Staff may ask to use the patient’s phone (this is a Freephone number so there is no charge)
- informing them that an information pack for the patient and family will be sent in the post.
5.Please ask the carer to:
- provide a comfortable chair in the patient’s room as the Marie Curie Nurse or Marie Curie Senior Healthcare Assistant will be working close to the patient (our nurses do not sleep during visits)
- make sure there is sufficient light in the room for observation and nursing care
- provide sufficient heating, access to a toilet and hand washing facilities (including soap or handwash), and facilities to make a hot drink
- provide a smoke-free environment for the nurse.
Handover to the Marie Curie Nurse or Senior Healthcare Assistant
You will be given the Marie Curie mobile number of the Marie Curie Nurse or Healthcare Assistant allocated to provide care for your patient at the point of referral.
It's important that you provide a telephone handover prior to the visit. You should let them know if the patient’s condition or medication has changed, if death is expected soon, how family or carers are coping, or who to contact if the patient lives alone.
This is also a good opportunity for you to share any risk factors, equipment or anything else that is important to help the visit run smoothly. Please discuss any significant risks with the Marie Curie Referral Centre or local co-ordination team.
Please don't give the patient or carer the telephone numbers for the Marie Curie Nursing Referral Centre, the Marie Curie Nurse or Senior Healthcare Assistant, or write the numbers down in the patient’s notes.
Changing or cancelling a referral
If arrangements change or a visit is no longer required, please inform the Marie Curie team who made the initial referral as soon as possible, so we can reallocate staff to another patient.
Sending us your feedback
We value your feedback about any aspect of Marie Curie’s Hospice Care at Home service. If you'd like to share any comments or suggestions, or make a complaint, please contact the Marie Curie Referral Centre or your local co-ordination team.
Alternatively, email complaints@mariecurie.org.uk or contact our Patient and Carer Experience team:
Patient and Carer Experience team
Marie Curie
One Embassy Gardens
8 Viaduct Gardens
London SW11 7BW
Marie Curie
One Embassy Gardens
8 Viaduct Gardens
London SW11 7BW
We'll acknowledge a complaint within two working days from the date we receive it. We'll investigate concerns to understand what has happened and any action we can take to prevent this in the future.
We aim to respond to all complaints within 20 working days. If for any reason that's not possible, we'll contact you to explain the reasons for any delay and agree a revised timeframe with you.
