Patients & Carers

This section covers some useful resources if you are a patient under the Macmillan Unit, or someone in a caring role. There are also national links for anyone interested in receiving further support.

Useful Links

https://www.mariecurie.org.uk/ –  provides frontline nursing and hospice care, a free support line and a wealth of information and support on all aspects of dying, death and bereavement.

https://www.macmillan.org.uk/ – Macmillan Cancer Support. Advice and information for people affected by cancer. This is the national Macmillan charity. Although we have the Macmillan name, we are not connected in any way to the national organisation. 

https://www.mndassociation.org/ – Information and resources for those affected by Motor Neurone Disease

https://www.mndassociation.org/support-and-information/local-support/branches/east-dorset-new-forest-branch/ – Contact details for the local MND support group

National Carer Resources

https://www.carersuk.org/ – a national resource for carers

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/social-care-and-support-guide/support-and-benefits-for-carers/ -portal for information regarding benefits, entitlements and supports for carers

https://www.ageuk.org.uk/information-advice/care/helping-a-loved-one/ – information for carers from Age UK

https://carers.org/ – information, advice and resources for unpaid carers who look after a loved one

Local Dorset Carer Resources

https://www.bournemouth.gov.uk/adult-social-care-services/Carers/Servicesforcarers.aspx – local support and resources for carers covering Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch

https://www.connecttosupporthampshire.org.uk/carersupport – local support and resources for carers covering the Hampshire area

https://www.crispweb.org/home.aspx – local information and support for carers covering the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole areas

https://www.connecttosupporthampshire.org.uk/ – local information and support for carers covering the Hampshire region

Video Guides for Carers

Carers may face exceptional circumstances at home where they may need to help with tasks they have never done before. St. Luke’s Hospice have given us permission to share their guidance videos.

Rolling to the Left instruction video

Laying to sitting instruction video

Sitting to standing instruction video

List of pharmacies 

 Pharmacy name and address

Phone Number

100 hour pharmacy

 Locality

Asda Pharmacy

St Pauls Road, Bournemouth,BH8 8DL

01202 298900

Yes

Bournemouth East

Castle Lane Pharmacy
482 Castle Lane West Bournemouth, BH8 9UD

01202 772110

Yes

Bournemouth West

Ferndown Pharmacy
487 Ringwood Road, Ferndown, BH22 9AG

01202 892666

Yes

East Dorset

Tesco Extra Pharmacy
Yarrow Road, Mannings Heath Poole, BH12 4NX

01202 457447 or 01202 367447

Yes

Parkstone

Asda Pharmacy
West Quay Road, Poole, BH15 1JQ

01202 207000

Yes

Poole Central

Equipment – www.redcross.org.uk Is useful for wheelchairs and other equipment

Guide for people nearing end stage of life : https://intranet.rbch.nhs.uk/uploads/palliative/documents/What-to-Expect.pdf

Brief Drugs List for GPs

 

Pain/breathlessness:

Morphine sulphate 2.5-5mg SC PRN (10mg in 1ml injection)

(alternative if taking PO or eGFR<30 – Oxycodone 1 – 2.5mg SC PRN (10mg in 1ml injection))

[Please take background opioid into account when prescribing doses for anticipatories]

Anxiety/distress:

Midazolam 2.5-5mg SC PRN (10mg in 2ml injection)

Secretions:

Glycopyrronium 200mcg SC PRN (600mcg in 3ml injection)

(alternative for secretions: Hyoscine Butylbromide 20mg/ml injection)

Nausea :

Levomepromazine 6.25mg SC PRN (25mg in 1ml injection)

(alternative for nausea: Haloperidol 1.5mg SC PRN (5mg in 1ml injection)

Water for injection

Dexamethasone 3.3mg SC OD-BD (equivalent to 4mg PO) if risk of steroid withdrawal/Addisons during terminal phase.

Day/Time Example Timetable
Monday - AM

9am MMU Ward Hand over; 9:30am Tour of MMU

10m Consultant Ward Round, MMU

Monday - PM

12pm Ward Nurses - syringe driver administration (treatment room)

1:30 Nursing Handover – MMU (ward office)

MMU – Admission Assessment(s) with ward doctor

Tuesday - AM

9am Ward Hand over

9:20am Referrals Meeting on MMU

10am Community visiting with Specialist Nurse

Tuesday - PM

12:30 Journal Club – MMU (doctors office)

2pm Introduction to Patient and Family Support Team

3pm Introduction to Welfare and benefits Advisor

Wednesday - AM

9am Ward Hand over

9:20am Referrals Meeting on MMU

10am Consultant ward round - MMU

Wednesday - PM

2pm Doctor/Nurse Home Visit with Specialty Doctor

Thursday - AM

9:15am Multi-Disciplinary Team Meeting on MMU

Thursday - PM

2pm Introduction to Palliative Rehabilitation with Physiotherapist

3pm Introduction to Complex Discharge Planning in terminal illness

Friday - AM

Hospital Palliative Care Team Ward Visits

Friday - PM

2pm Introduction to Personalised Care Plan for the Last Days of Life with End of Life Care Nurse

4pm Debrief / sign off