Page updated: 20 Dec 2010
Supportive and palliative care services
Helping people to cope with cancer or other life limiting illnesses in times of need.
What is palliative care?
Palliative care is an approach that aims to improve the quality of life for patients who are living with any life-limiting illness and to support their carers and those close to them.
It is not just for people who are nearing the end of their life or for people whose illness cannot be cured. Some palliative care services can also support patients with complex problems whose illness is likely to be cured.
What does the specialist palliative care service offer?
All of our teams work together to provide a seamless service and with our patients we carefully plan and review treatment and support. The role of each team is described in more detail below.
Our aim is to provide specialist palliative care and support for patients, carers and health care professionals.
Telephone 0161 746 2080 for more information on any of the below.
The multi-disciplinary team includes:
Macmillan nurses
Who provide:
- Expert information, advice and support to help improve the lives of people with cancer and other life threatening conditions.
- Advice and support to other health care professionals.
- Education to improve care given by health care professionals.
- Support families and carers.
- Work collaboratively with other health care professionals in providing support from diagnosis to end of life.
Advanced specialist occupational therapist in palliative care
Our aim is to enable people whom we are treating to attain an optimum level of independence and quality of life within their own home environment. This includes:
- Assisting clients with activities of daily living
- Assessing seating needs and prescribing equipment
- Advice on relaxation
- Advise on breathlessness management
- Advice on energy conservation
We also provide support and education for carers and assist with psychological adjustment to loss of physical disability so that life can be lived as independently and as satisfyingly as possible.
Complementary therapy and therapeutic activity
Our aim is to support people living with life limiting illness, helping to maintain or improve their physical and mental wellbeing through:
- Supportive care key-working
- Complementary therapies
- Therapeutic courses, such as: gentle exercise; gentle yoga; relaxation session; confidence building; art therapy; my time (social activities group).
We offer a warm and relaxed environment for people affected by cancer or other life limiting illnesses in their time of need.
People over the age of 18, who live in Trafford or who are registered with a Trafford GP can access the service.
We have an open referral policy enabling people to refer themselves or be referred by a health or social care professional.
The specialist palliative care co-ordinator
The specialist palliative care co-ordinator supports patients with children who may require emotional support due to:
- Psychological and social care needs
- Complex family dynamics
- Children’s bereavement issues
The co-ordinator works closely with:
- Schools
- Health care professionals
- Other agencies that deal with the patient and their families.
In addition we contribute to the palliative care education and support of generic social workers. We also provide education around the service and the needs of young people affected by life threatening illnesses and bereavement.
Trafford supportive, palliative and bereavement counselling team
The primary function of this team is that of support and rehabilitation through a joined-up, holistic service. The team provides care from diagnosis and throughout active treatment until recovery or onto bereavement care in the case of death. The specialist supportive care team covers the whole spectrum of support for people living with a life-threatening illness and is based at Trafford General Hospital.
Each client referred to the Macmillan Centre is allocated to a supportive care keyworker and invited to take part in a keyworker assessment. During this assessment the client's psychosocial needs are identified. Working with the client, the keyworker refers the client to the appropriate internal and external services. The keyworker then supports the client as they access these services. Keyworkers are health care professionals trained in psychosocial assessment and support.
Trafford Macmillan information and support team
Our aim is to ensure that all local people have access to high quality, comprehensive, up to date information on any aspects of cancer when they need it, through:
- A drop-in information and support area with Trafford Macmillan Care Centre
- Community outreach sessions at various locations around the borough
- The provision of information packs for patients at Trafford General Hospital
- Holding cancer awareness events, which link into national campaigns
- Giving talks and presentations to local groups
The service is available to anyone who is worried about, having tests for or living with cancer. We also support people who are caring for someone with cancer and are a resource for health and social care professionals. People can access the service by visiting one of the above or by telephoning, emailing of faxing us.
Location and opening times for Trafford supportive and palliative care service
We are based at The Trafford Macmillan Care Centre, which is in the grounds of Trafford General Hospital, Davyhulme.
We are open Monday to Thursday, 9am to 5pm and Friday 9am to 4.30pm.
For further information please telephone the centre on 0161 746 2080, fax on 0161 746 2082 or email cancerinformation@trafford.nhs.uk.