New night nursing team supports sickest patients

Patients who are coming to the end of their lives or are seriously ill will get quicker expert nursing care at home thanks to a new night-time nursing service launched by Guy’s and St Thomas’.

The pal@home service sends nurses out to patients’ homes in Lambeth and Southwark within an hour of referral by a GP, district nurse or other health professional.

The new service, which started in December, means that patients no longer need to go to hospital in the middle of the night or to wait until the morning to see their GP. It runs from 8pm to 8am seven days a week.

Karen Titchener, Deputy Head of Nursing for the pal@home service, says: “Our nurses support patients to stay at home with their loved ones or have shorter hospital stays at probably the most difficult stage of their lives.

“Patients may need urgent symptom control such as pain relief or have a medical problem like a blocked catheter. They want to be seen quickly, especially at night. We are here to help and support them when they really need it.”

For information about the pal@home service call 020 3049 5751 or email karen.titchener@gstt.nhs.uk