Download This leaflet explains the various services that are provided in your

Supporting South
Devon Together
This leaflet explains the various services that are provided in
your area by Macmillan Cancer Support and Rowcroft Hospice.
Both charities work independently to support people with life-limiting illnesses and ensure
that they and their loved ones have access to help, information and services that are
timely and effective. At all times both charities believe that their different services should
complement one another.
Rowcroft Hospice, making
every day the best day possible
Rowcroft Hospice helps to make every day the best day possible for adults living with
life-limiting illnesses in South Devon; helping them to make special memories, share
precious moments and make the most of each and every day.
The hospice cares for people with a range of illnesses including cancer, neurological, heart
and lung diseases, and support also extends to their family and friends. 70% of services are
provided in people’s homes and care homes, helping families to stay together for longer and
make the most of the time they have together.
Community Team
The Rowcroft Community Team offers
specialist symptom advice as well as emotional,
spiritual and social support. The Community
Team works with patients in their own homes,
care homes, our Outpatient Centre and
community hospitals. Services are provided
by nurses, social workers, occupational
therapists, doctors, art and music therapists,
complementary therapists and physiotherapists.
Outpatient Therapy Services
Inpatient Unit
Our 17-bedded Inpatient Unit supports people
with complex needs and is staffed by a
specialist multi-disciplinary team of doctors,
nurses, social workers, occupational therapists,
physiotherapists, complementary and creative
therapists and chaplaincy. Admission to the unit
is offered for a number of reasons, for example:
• Help with symptoms such as
pain, sickness or breathlessness
• Emotional support for
patients and their families
• End of life care
Hospice at Home
The Rowcroft Hospice at Home team is led by
registered nurses with specialist palliative care
experience. They work closely with GPs, district
nurses, our community and hospital palliative
care teams and other healthcare professionals
involved in people’s care.
Our senior healthcare assistants provide up
to 24/7 hands-on care to patients and their
families, supporting the choice to be at home
in the last few weeks of life; whether that’s in
patients’ own homes or care homes.
Rowcroft Hospice’s Outpatient Centre is based
on the main site. A wide range of services
are provided by chronic oedema therapists,
physiotherapists, occupational therapists and
complementary therapists. Patient group
sessions in managing symptoms such as
breathlessness and clinical appointments
with medical staff, specialist nurses and social
workers are also available.
Chronic Oedema
This service is provided by a team of specialist
nurse therapists. The service is mainly delivered
in our Outpatient Centre in Torquay, and we
also provide treatment in people’s homes or in
the Inpatient Unit if this is more appropriate.
The team provide advice and treatment for all
forms of chronic oedema.
Bereavement Support
Rowcroft provides bereavement services that
are available to any individual who has had
contact with the hospice, whether as a patient,
family member, carer or friend. Support is
offered through one-to-one sessions and
support groups.
Should you wish to find out more
about Rowcroft’s services, please visit
www.rowcrofthospice.org.uk
Finding out that you or someone close to you has cancer can be difficult and confusing.
You may find it helpful to talk with someone who understands what you’re going
through. The following services are available for you in South Devon.
Local experts, for the
best possible cancer care
Macmillan has been able to help to pay for
local services by providing funding for 12
Macmillan-badged health professionals in
and around Torbay and include doctors,
nurses, occupational therapists, dieticians
and psychologists. Some of these Macmillan
professionals support patients with specific
cancers and others work to improve the
provision and co-ordination of cancer and end
of life care in the local area.
Someone to talk to
The Lodge, the cancer information and
support centre at Torbay Hospital, offers free
and confidential advice to anyone affected by
cancer, including family members and carers.
Also on offer is:
• Advice to help you manage the
financial impact of cancer
• Complementary therapies
and relaxation classes
• Wig fitting
The Lodge is open on a drop-in basis,
Wednesday to Friday, 9am–4pm, telephone
01803 617521.
Macmillan Cancer Support helped to set up The
Lodge with a substantial grant and provides
ongoing support to the team of information
professionals based there.
If you can’t visit The Lodge, you can call
the Macmillan Support Line on (Freephone)
0808 808 00 00 where you can speak to
cancer specialists about a range of useful
subjects, including support from dieticians,
physiotherapists and social workers.
Helping you to keep active
Research has shown that being active during
and after treatment significantly improves
your health. Talk to your GP or Clinical Nurse
Specialist for further information on suitable
physical activity schemes/classes in the area.
You could also join others on short walk with
Walking for Health, run by the Ramblers and
Macmillan Cancer Support. Find out where your
nearest walk is at www.walkingforhealth.org.uk.
Help with money worries
Living with cancer can bring extra expenses and
a reduced income. Financial specialists at the
Macmillan Support Line can help you manage
your finances and claim the benefits you may
be entitled to. This might include a Macmillan
grant. In 2014, we gave over £120,000 to help
399 people with cancer in Devon.
Information you can trust
You can order Macmillan’s free booklets that
cover a wide range of subjects, from detailed
cancer information to advising on healthy
eating from www.macmillan.org.uk or
0808 808 00 00.
Helping you take control
Learning to live with and after cancer can be
challenging and Macmillan offers lots of free
online courses and events to help you with
this. You can find out more about the resources
available from www.macmillan.org.uk/learnzone,
or by calling the Macmillan Support Line.
Cancer is the toughest fight that many of us
will face and Macmillan is working to ensure
that no one faces it alone.
Rowcroft Hospice
To speak to someone about the services we provide for people
with life-limiting illnesses in South Devon, call: 01803 210811
www.rowcrofthospice.org.uk
Macmillan Cancer Support
For questions about living with cancer, or to find out more about
Macmillan in your area, call: 0808 808 00 00
www.macmillan.org.uk