Counselling Support
The Family Support Team are available Monday – Friday from 9 am – 4:30 pm and we have counsellors available some weekday evenings and some Saturday mornings. For information on any of these services, please contact the Patient Pathway Team on 01785 270 832.
If you are worried, anxious, or struggling with difficult feelings please have a look at and try the resources on this page.
Nutrition Information
Palliative illness, cancer or cancer treatments can cause problems with eating and digestion. Your appetite may vary when you feel ill, but it’s important to keep eating and stay hydrated.
See our Nutrition advice for patients.
Welfare (financial) and support
Having an incurable illness can lead to concerns about managing finances, additional costs and income. We’re here to help, with welfare support available to patients and their families, friends or carers.
We can help you with advice on claiming government benefits and support with completing the necessary applications.
If you are a patient family member, friend or carer, you can also access the service to receive advice and support on what they may be able to claim to make your life easier whilst caring for your loved one.
Contact our Patient Pathway Team on 01785 270832.
Preventing falls
If you have an incurable illness or are receiving palliative care, the risk of falling might be higher than normal. Most falls do not cause serious injury but having a fall can affect a person’s confidence.
Read our guide on how to prevent falls.
Relaxation Sessions
Rachel our Complementary Therapy Coordinator has kindly put together some relaxation sessions which you can enjoy at home. Make yourself comfortable and listen to her soothing words to completely relax you and take your mind off current issues.
Mindfulness
Breathing
Meditation
Visualisation
Body Scan
Useful Links
Other websites to visit include:
MIND the mental health charity:
www.mind.org.uk/information-support
Every Mind Matters www.nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters
The Mental Health Foundation
https://mentalhealth.org.uk/coronavirus?bblinkid=213337963&bbemailid=203…
Local support groups
Mind North Staffordshire – counselling, parent support and advice.
Contact details: Telephone: 01782 262100 Email: reception@nsmind.org.uk
Changes – online recovery, wellbeing and peer support.
Contact details: Telephone: 0798 343 7747 Email: wellbeing.here4u@changes.org.uk
Men Unite – a support group for men who have been affected a number of issues including isolation and bereavement; find them on Facebook or visit their website and use the chat function
Andy’s Man Club – Talking group for men only, which offers support and reduce isolation – Andys Man Club Stafford – Home | Facebook
Befriending services at Staffordshire Connects.
Staying Mentally Strong
It is important for us to look at ways to look after ourselves and our loved ones wellbeing. There is some great information available online, please visit the links below for some helpful tips around our wellbeing
There is also important information on the NHS to make healthy choices around your health and wellbeing Live Well – NHS (www.nhs.uk)
Get helpful Tips with a Quiz This quiz asks 5 simple questions and comes up with some tips just for you and is based on your answers. Tips could be around sleep, healthy eating or worrying.
How to deal with uncertainty an NHS page where there are links and discussions around anxiety as restrictions lift, managing worrying, tips for home working and sleep.