Marymount University Hospital & Hospice
Specialist Palliative Care
Palliative care is an approach that improves the quality of life of patients and their families facing the problems associated with an advancing life-threatening illness. The focus of hospice care is person-centred, cherishing the uniqueness and dignity of each person. We affirm life, while integrating the physical, psychosocial and spiritual aspects of care, particular to individual needs.
Palliative Care
- Affirms life and regards dying as a normal process.
- Intends neither to hasten or postpone death.
- Provides relief from pain and other distressing symptoms.
- Integrates the psychological and spiritual aspects of patient care.
- Offers a support system to help patients live as actively as possible until death.
- Offers a support system to help the family cope during the patients illness and in their own bereavement.
About Palliative Care
How is Palliative Care Delivered?
Palliative care is an integral part of the work of most health care professionals and is delivered by multi-disciplinary teams in acute hospitals, primary and community care settings who can access specialist palliative care services when required.
Specialist Palliative Care services are complementary and not a replacement for the care provided by healthcare providers established within the patient’s care.
Marymount University Hospice is the designated specialist palliative care centre for Cork City and County. Our facility is home to a 44 bed inpatient unit, day hospice, out-patient department and community based programme provided by an inter-disciplinary team under the direction of our Consultant Physicians in Palliative Medicine.
Our service supports a dedicated specialist palliative care service in all of the acute hospitals across the region, working in close liaison with established medical services existing within the acute setting and across the community.
Community Palliative Care Services
Our Community Palliative Care service is provided by our Clinical Nurse Specialist team, who receive support from other interdisciplinary members. We collaborate closely with the patient’s primary healthcare team, including the GP and Public Health Nurse, as well as the acute hospital team. Our focus is on advising and managing complex symptoms for patients residing at home or in other community care settings, such as community hospitals and nursing homes.
St Luke’s Daycare
St. Luke’s Specialist Palliative Care Day Unit is a friendly and relaxed environment located on the ground floor of the hospice. It offers a specialist palliative care service in a daycare setting. The overarching aim is to improve quality of life for people contending with serious illness and their families, using a range of therapeutic and rehabilitative approaches.
Members of the specialist palliative care multidisciplinary team meet with each person to assess their needs and develop an individualised programme of support.
Medical Social Work
If you, a member of your family or a close friend have been diagnosed with a serious illness there are suddenly many questions that need to be answered, particularly in relation to care and support and the many adjustments that may need to be made.
The Medical Social Work in Marymount helps individuals and families to explore some of these issues, provides information about services and assists in dealing with the practical and emotional consequences of illness. The service is staffed by experienced and qualified Social Workers who work as part of a multidisciplinary team that includes Nurses, Doctors, Pastoral Care, Physiotherapists and others.
Pastoral Care
When you are living with a life-limiting illness, it is not just your body that is affected. Illness affects the whole person, including your emotional and spiritual life. Family and friends may also feel helpless in the face of illness. Pastoral care, sometimes called ‘spiritual care,’ is about accompanying, listening with compassion and helping to create a space which recognises the spiritual and emotional needs of our patients, their families and those closest to them. The Pastoral Care Team offers time and space to you and your family/loved ones who may wish to have support in exploring spiritual concerns.
Specialist Palliative Care
Below are some of the services that we offer as part of our Specialist Palliative Care.
Administration
Medicine
Pastoral Care
Dietics
Nursing
Medical Social Work
Speech & Language
Pharmacy
