Sue Ryder St John’s Hospice is in Moggerhanger, Bedfordshire, set in its own peaceful grounds.
Our highly skilled clinical staff provide round-the-clock assessment and specialist care, in a safe and comfortable environment. We help relieve physical problems, like pain, breathlessness and nausea to make you as comfortable as possible. Family Support and Spiritual Care teams are on hand to offer emotional support to you and your loved ones too.
Like all organisations, we have been reviewing the impact of Coronavirus (Covid-19) on our work. We are closely monitoring the situation and following UK Government advice.
Referrals
We treat adults aged 18 and over, living in north and mid Bedfordshire, or the Huntingdon and St Neots area of Cambridgeshire.
Referrals for both inpatient or outpatient care are made by health care professionals involved in your care. This type of referral gives us a comprehensive picture of the medical background of each patient, and what treatments have been tried prior to admission.
Download a referral form
You can also email stjohns.ipu@nhs.net
Sue Ryder Nurses and counsellors understand how families, and children, can be affected when someone close to them is ill. We counsel and advise people from diagnosis onwards, during life-limiting conditions, and we also offer bereavement counselling after a loved one has died.
At St John’s, we have specialist palliative care, experienced counsellors and a spiritual care lead or chaplain to advise and support you. We offer one-to-one therapy sessions and family meetings. Please note that some of these sessions may be offered virtually.
St John’s Palliative Care Hub provides palliative support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week when you have a life-limiting condition and prefer to receive care at home. Services include:
- 24/7 Palliative Advice and Coordination Phone Line for patients, relatives and professionals
- Management of the Palliative Care Register
- Palliative care at home service
- Crisis home visiting service
- Planned home visiting service
- Night Sitting service
The Palliative Care Hub works together with your local care providers, GPs, district nurses, specialist nurses, the ambulance service and other health and social care professionals to provide the best possible care.
You can contact the Palliative Care Hub team on the phone 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for support and advice by dialling 111 and selecting the "Palliative and End of Life Care" option.
The service is run by our specialist lymphoedema nurses as an outpatient clinic at the hospice. The clinic is open between 9:00am and 5:00pm on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. The clinic is closed on Wednesdays and Fridays.
About lymphoedema
The lymphatic system has two main functions: helping to remove waste products from the body and assisting in the fight against infection. If the drainage route through the lymphatic system becomes blocked or damaged, fluid (lymph) accumulates in the tissues. This causes swelling, known as oedema.
Who we treat for lymphoedema
We see patients who have developed lymphoedema as a result of cancer, MS and MND only.
All patients need to be referred by a doctor or a healthcare professional.
Referrals to the Cancer, MS or MND-related Lymphoedema Service
Referrals to the lymphoedema clinic for lymphoedema as a result of cancer, MS or MND can be made by any healthcare professional by downloading and completing our Lymphoedema Clinic referral form. Please note that the patient must have an NHS Bedfordshire registered GP and we can only accept patients once we have received a fully completed referral form.
We are unable to accept self-referrals, so if the patient feels they would benefit from seeing a specialist lymphoedema practitioner they would need to discuss this with their GP to ensure they meet the criteria for a referral into the service.
We cannot attend home visits therefore patients will need to be able to attend the clinic for their appointments.
If you are a GP or Healthcare Professional, please read our Lymphoedema Clinic referral form for further details.
Managing lymphoedema symptoms
After a patient has been referred to us, a specialist Sue Ryder nurse trained in lymphoedema care will assess them. Based on the initial assessment we will make a specific treatment plan for each patient’s needs.
Lymphoedema symptoms can include swelling, fibrosis and heaviness. Lymphoedema can’t be cured but we’ll help to manage these symptoms. We aim to make each patient comfortable, show them how to take care of their swelling, and prevent infection.
Our goal is for each patient to remain independent, while safely managing their lymphoedema.
If you would like any further information or advice please call the clinic on 01767 642 241.
