Palliative care

View our Trust patient leaflets

Please ask your ward team to contact us to request a visit. Patients and families can also make referrals to our service.

The Butterfly Garden at West Suffolk Hospital is a quiet, private space for patients in the last days and weeks of life, and their families and friends.

It can also be used for special occasions, such as weddings, or as a peaceful place for loved ones to spend time.

The garden is fully accessible for wheelchair users.

The Butterfly Garden was created thanks to generous donations from our community through the My WiSH Charity.

If you or your loved one would like to use the Butterfly Garden, please speak to a member of staff.

This section is provided to give you written information about the blue ribbon scheme. This is in addition to the nurses or doctors discussing this with you and your relative or friend (if appropriate).

In times of increased capacity in the hospital, it may be necessary to transfer patients to different wards for the purpose of clinical care.

We recognise that for some patients, especially at the end of life, moving wards should be avoided, to ensure unnecessary disturbance and to maintain continuity of care.

West Suffolk Hospital supports the blue ribbon ‘do not transfer’ scheme. This scheme has been developed to prevent ward transfers for patients identified as not appropriate to move. If bed capacity pressures in the hospital necessitate the transfer of a patient with a blue ribbon, then a hospital senior manager should review this and discuss this with you and your relative or friend (if appropriate).

The nurses and doctors looking after your relative or friend feel that a ward move should be avoided. This will not prevent your relative or friend being moved on the ward, if there is a more suitable area available such as a side room, if you have requested it. Unfortunately it is not always possible for patients to be nursed in side rooms however we will make every effort to facilitate this where possible.

The blue ribbon symbol may be placed by the bedside and is also recorded on the patient’s electronic records to alert staff that a ward transfer should be avoided.

If you require any additional information or you would like to ask any questions please do not hesitate to speak to the nurses or doctors on the ward.

The blue ribbon ‘do not transfer scheme’ was developed in the Isle of Wight NHS Trust and have given us permission to use it in our hospital.

If this is a service you would like to access, the Palliative Care Team will contact them on your behalf, or they can be contacted directly on 01284 713486. More information can be found on the chaplaincy webpage.

Macmillan Way, Bury St Edmunds IP33 2QY

Phone: 01284 766133

St Nicholas Hospice provides in-patient unit, family support, community palliative care team

The Macmillan Cancer Information and Support Centre is situated in the Macmillan outpatients area at the rear of the West Suffolk Hospital. The centre offers support, advice and information for anyone affected by cancer. It is staffed by a Macmillan Information and Support Specialist and trained volunteers and has literature on cancer, including specific tumour sites, treatments, side effects and the emotional impact of a cancer diagnosis.

The centre offers assistance with blue badge applications, hair loss services, contact with local support groups and self-management courses.

The centre also helps with grant applications and referrals to benefits advice.

Anyone can drop in, Monday to Friday 9.00am to 4.30pm (no appointment necessary) or telephone 01284 713023 or direct email:cancer.infocentre@wsh.nhs.uk

Finances can be a major problem because treatments for patients with cancer can be a lengthy process. If you need financial assistance, the Macmillan Information Centre will be able to offer information and refer you to a Macmillan Benefits Advisor. There are also grants available for cancer patients from different organisations, please ask your specialist nurse or the Macmillan Information Manager for details.

To contact the Suffolk Macmillan Benefits Advisors please

phone: 01473 581755

Email: macmillanbenefitsadviceservice@suffolk.gov.uk

Prescription charges for patients with cancer were abolished in April 2009. In order to make sure you get your prescriptions free of charge you will need to speak to your GP (not your hospital doctor) about how to obtain a valid exemption certificate (form FP92A).

Are you looking after someone? Who is looking after you? Suffolk Family Carers are available to help and give support.

They can be contacted on: 01473 835477 or online chat at www.suffolkfamilycarers.org or email hello@suffolkfamilycarers.org