Can you help Exeter Hospiscare?

The local charity, which cares for hundreds of terminally ill patients in Exeter, is launching a new volunteering role in the city after a successful pilot project in Honiton.

Volunteers, called care navigators, regularly visit patients at home and provide a link between the patient, their carer, Hospiscare’s team and the wider health and social care system.

Pat Northcott loves her new role as a Hospiscare care navigator. Once a week she spends an afternoon with Ken and Ann Kittow at their Honiton home. “It's satisfying helping other people,” says Pat. “It's a real pleasure going to see Ann and Ken.”

Ken is a Hospiscare patient who enjoys his visits from Pat. He says: “It’s great fun, we don't talk about anything too seriously. We laugh and joke, it's a jolly afternoon and it’s reassuring knowing Pat is there.”

Care navigators can introduce patients to a range of services, helping them to find the support that is right for them, but there is no clinical care at any time. Hospiscare employs specialist nurses and doctors to provide high quality expert clinical care.

If you're interested in finding out more about how you could support a patient in your community please contact Vicky on 01392 688068 or email:volunteering@hospiscare.co.uk Any travel expenses will be reimbursed.