Palliative and hospice services

We offer a range of community day/therapy services to people living with a life-limiting condition. Our aim is to help with your specialist palliative care needs so that you can continue living at home, safely and in comfort. Care services range from virtual sessions run by our team of experts to one-to-one at home community visits with our occupational therapists or physiotherapists, where necessary.

If you would like to know more about the day services available in your area, please contact your local hospice for more information.

We offer individuals the choice to be cared for in their own homes whenever possible, and support them in their choice of where they would like to die.

Our visits, made by senior nurses and healthcare assistants, are not timed, but are personalised to your needs on the day.

We work in alignment with our physiotherapy, occupational therapy, family support and bereavement support teams, as well as local community nursing teams.

Physiotherapy and occupational therapy, provided by our expert therapists, are a vital part of the personalised care we offer.

Practical suggestions might include how to improve mobility using appropriate walking aids and gentle exercise or providing advice and equipment to make it easier to manage day-to-day activities. We advise you on how to remain safe at home. Our therapies teams also provide advice and practical solutions to help manage symptoms such as breathlessness, fatigue and anxiety.

By developing coping strategies to enhance wellbeing and give back control, we help you to live as full a life as possible.

When you first meet a member of our team, whether in the hospice, at home or in the community, we will ask you about your practical, emotional and spiritual needs as well as your physical health.

At every Sue Ryder hospice, we have a team whose job it is to listen and support you and your family. This could include connecting you with local community groups or organisations and other Sue Ryder support services.

Our befriending volunteers offer emotional support and friendship to patients. They are often paired with patients who share personal interests and hobbies, usually spending time with them for an hour or two each week. Volunteer befrienders support patients by providing companionship, helping them to shop or visit their favourite places, or offering respite for their families.

Read more about what our befriending service means to Cathy and Dot.

Complementary therapies can help to reduce stress, anxiety and agitation, as well as aid sleep and relieve aches and pains.

Our complementary therapy services offer relaxing treatments including reflexology, massage, aromatherapy, acupuncture and Reiki.

Read a blog from one of our complementary therapists, Helen

The lymphoedema teams at Sue Ryder Duchess of Kent and Sue Ryder St John’s Hospice provide a specialist physiotherapist and nurse-led service. Patients need to be referred by a doctor or a healthcare professional.

Lymphoedema can’t be cured, but we have lots of strategies to control and reduce the swelling, and relieve distressing symptoms, especially with early diagnosis and advice. Our specialist therapists can show you self-treatment strategies including skincare, ways to reduce the risk of getting cellulitis (infections), and self-massage techniques and exercises.

Read more in our blog A day in the life of a Lymphoedema Specialist Nurse.