The effect of an advanced or terminal illness can go further than just the patient

Phyllis Tuckwell offers supportive and end of life care to patients who are living with an advanced or terminal illness, and supports their families and carers too.

“They’ve been amazing, we couldn’t have survived without them,” said Denise, whose husband Richard is being cared for by Phyllis Tuckwell’s Living Well team.

While Richard receives care from the team’s doctors, nurses and therapists, Denise is offered emotional and practical support. Its online Carers’ Group provides a place where carers can find out about resources that are available to them, and discuss topics such as forward planning, coping strategies, and how to manage relationships when they change. They can meet and chat with other carers in a similar situation, and share their thoughts and feelings in this safe space.

Phyllis Tuckwell also runs regular pamper days, where carers are offered haircuts, manicures, complementary therapies such as massages, a shared lunch to enjoy together, and a goodie bag to take home with them afterwards.

It helps its young carers too, offering them emotional support from counsellors who are specially trained in supporting children, and signposting them to different groups and projects which they may find beneficial. After bereavement, the adult relatives of its patients are supported through its First Steps and Second Steps groups, and its bereaved young carers are invited to age-specific groups or individual counselling sessions.

“When you’re referred to a hospice, you go to a mindset of this is end of life, but in reality it’s a support network that is there for whatever journey you are on,” said Denise. “The support we have had has been amazing right from the get-go. You feel like you’re part of the Phyllis Tuckwell family – him being cared for and me being supported.”

We offer a range of services specifically for carers including:

Online Carers’ Group

Pamper Days

Emotional Support for Young Carers

Bereavement Support Groups

Pastoral Care and Chaplaincy Support

Benefits & Entitlements Advice