Care assistants or Home Care teams
They help with tasks at home, such as dressing and washing. They may be employed by social services, community services, hospitals or hospices.
Children’s Community Nursing Teams
These teams specialise in caring for children and families. They provide nursing and supportive care at home. They can be contacted through the hospital, via the GP’s surgery or directly at their base.
Community palliative care nurses
Community palliative care nurses are clinical nurse specialists, skilled in pain and symptom control. They give emotional support and practical advice to patients and their families, from diagnosis onwards. They do not usually provide hands-on care, but give advice to the primary healthcare team. They can also link with the hospital or hospice.
In some areas they are called hospice community nurses or Macmillan Nurses. Macmillan Nurses may be employed by the local hospice or Macmillan Cancer Support.
District Nurse or community nurse
District and community nurses provide hands-on nursing care and practical advice in the home. In many places they are available 24 hours a day. They can usually be contacted through a GP’s surgery or directly at their office.
General practitioner (GP) or family doctor
Your GP is responsible for all aspects of medical care at home. They can arrange help from other professionals or services.
Health visitor
They specialise in the care of babies and young children at home. They are based at your GP’s surgery and can offer advice and training. They can also help arrange other services that your family might need.
Hospice at Home
Hospice at Home is available in some areas. It normally includes qualified nurses, nursing assistants and volunteers who offer care in the home.
Hospice staff
Hospice staff include doctors, nurses, social workers, physiotherapists, spiritual care leads, counsellors and volunteers.
Marie Curie nurses
Marie Curie nurses can provide hands-on care at home through the day or night. This gives the carer a chance to have a break or sleep. Your district nurse can help you find a Marie Curie nurse.
Occupational therapists
These therapists give advice on and provide equipment to help make daily life easier, such as help with the bath, toilet or stairs.
Oncologists
Oncologists are doctors who specialise in treating cancer:
They are often based at cancer centres, but they may also see you at your local hospital.
Physicians, surgeons and hospital doctors
These are based in hospitals and specialise in a particular area of medicine.
Physiotherapists
Physiotherapists teach people special exercises to improve things or stop something getting worse. They sometimes teach breathing exercises.
The Primary Healthcare Team
This team usually includes the GP, district or community nurse, children's community nurse, practice nurse, practice manager and receptionists. There might be other associated professionals, such as health visitors.
Social workers
Social workers can help you get emotional support, practical help and financial assistance. They are often employed by Social Services.
Some social workers work in hospices and hospitals. Some specialise in a particular area, such as working with children or bereavement support.
Specialists in palliative care and hospice doctors
These specialise in managing pain and other symptoms. They also focus on meeting the social, emotional and spiritual needs of the patient.
