Our Care
Clinical Nurse Specialists
Our Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNS) team provide specialist palliative care and support for patients with complex symptoms, often when all other options have been explored by GPs and District Nurses.
We provide specialist palliative care and support to patients across Blackburn and Darwen from the comfort of their own home, and are available 7 days a week. If a patient is based in Hyndburn or the Ribble Valley, East Lancashire Hospitals Trust’s CNS team will provide them with specialist care and support.
There are many benefits to using the CNS service, some of which include improved quality of life, management of complex symptoms, support for friends and families, reduced hospital admissions, early intervention and collaborative working with the GP, District Nurses and community teams to ensure patients are cared for in their preferred place, where possible.
Service
The services provided range from complex symptom management, emotional/psychological support, advanced care planning, anticipatory clinical management, treatment escalation plans and medicine management and prescribing.
Our CNS team provide support, training and education to District Nurses, GPs and care homes to ensure patients are cared for in their preferred place.
Advanced Care Planning conversations and anticipatory clinical management plans help to ensure that patients’ wishes are followed and help to prevent avoidable hospital admissions.
Our team can signpost and refer patients to other services outside of the Hospice, including services that provide support with finances and equipment.
Referrals
Referrals can be made through healthcare professionals, such as your GP or District Nurse, other hospice services or a Hospital Consultant or Specialist.
If you’re based in Hyndburn or the Ribble Valley, East Lancashire Hospitals Trust’s CNS team will provide you with specialist care and support.
Accessing other hospice services
We regularly work alongside other hospice services and make referrals when appropriate. Our holistic approach puts the individual’s health and wellbeing at the centre of everything we do, helping them make the most of life.
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FAQs
How is the CNS team different from the Hospice at Home service?
The CNS team are specialist nurses who provide specialised palliative care and support when patients have complex needs, which can’t be met by other healthcare professionals.
The Hospice at Home team, however, provides a range of supportive care services to promote physical, emotional and spiritual wellbeing for the patient and their friends and families. They adapt to the patient’s changing needs, and provide advice to maintain independence and autonomy in decision making.
Does the Hospice only provide care for patients with cancer?
No, not at all – this is a common misconception. We care for patients with a wide range of life-limiting illnesses, including both cancerous and non-cancerous illnesses.
What times do the nurses visit?
The nurses will arrange a day to visit and often offer morning or afternoon visits. Our working hours are 8.30 am – 4.30 pm, 7 days a week, including weekends and Bank Holidays.
Can I get overnight support with the CNS team?
No, we are a specialist nursing service and do not offer overnight support. However, we could work with District Nurses, other care providers, and hospice services if further support is needed.
How do I book a visit with the CNS team?
When you are referred to the CNS team, we will ring you to discuss your needs and arrange a visit. Once you are on our caseload, you will have the number for the team to enable a call if needed. We would always encourage patients to contact their GP or District Nurse first, before contacting our team, as they are the primary caregivers.
What is the difference between a Macmillan nurse and a CNS?
There is no difference. In Blackburn and Darwen, the Hospice CNS team provide this same role and are employed directly by East Lancashire Hospice; there are no Macmillan nurses available.
Our team provides specialist palliative care for the people of Blackburn and Darwen. We can refer to the Macmillan support hub for support with form-filling and benefits/entitlements if necessary, or patients and their friends and families can access the above services via the Macmillan Hub.
Make a Referral
We’re here to help, whatever your need. Referrals can be made to each of our services, helping our patients and their friends and family access the right care at the right time. Referrals are made using our online referral form – simply click the referral button to get started.
