To enquire about a patient on the ward or to speak to one of our Palliative Care Sisters please call 01202 705470

Visiting Times

There are no visiting time rules at the Macmillan Unit. However we do ask visitors to refrain from visiting just after meals as we would like our Patients to rest a while.

The Macmillan Unit has a well appointed visitor’s lounge with wide screen television & a children’s area comprising a computer, an Xbox 360 and craft kits. Visitors can make a hot drink in the beverage area and relax in comfort, or wander around the landscaped garden, aviary and Koi pond.

Innovation

In 2009 the Macmillan Unit was awarded Practice Development Unit Status, making it a Centre of Excellence. This was based on two years of work, where the Staff developed new & innovative ways to improve patient care. The Macmillan Unit also has a Teaching Wing, where these specialist skills are passed on to local Healthcare Professionals. Macmillan Caring Locally is committed to invest in training programmes to ensure that as many patients as possible will benefit from advanced palliative care.

What We Fund

Community Specialist Palliative Care Sisters

Our nurses in the community visit patients at home or within the unit and hospital.

Affectionately known as the Macmillan Sisters, we have twelve sisters based in the Macmillan Unit and three based in the Royal Bournemouth Hospital.

Specialist Palliative Care Team

Our team of doctors and nurses provide ongoing specialist care to our patients within the Macmillan Unit and out in the community.

The Day Centre

The Day Centre is open Monday to Thursday from 9.30 a.m. until 3.30 p.m. The aim of the Macmillan Day Centre is to improve the quality of the Patient’s life by offering much needed mutual support and understanding from the staff who acknowledge the importance of helping Patients to cope with their illness and the effects of treatment.

The nurses also endeavour to help them deal with any concerns they may have about the future and assist them to live as normal a life as possible, maintaining their independence.

The Day Centre Support Group provides a wide variety of diversional therapy activities. Many talents are revealed and developed giving a real sense of achievement and fulfillment. The group functions for the Patients’ well being and to enable them to participate in activities and benefit from therapies such as Relaxation, Aromatherapy, Physiotherapy and Self Expression.

Family Support

Suffering from cancer is a stressful and difficult journey. Watching a loved one going through it is emotionally and mentally challenging, which can often be overlooked. The Macmillan Family Support Team (based at the Macmillan Unit) offer comfort and support to the Families of our Patients.

At a very difficult time, it can be hard to focus on leading a normal life, when all around seems to be falling apart. The Family Support Team provide valuable advice and will talk through any problems or issues whenever needed.

The care is available from the time that a Patient is referred to the Macmillan Unit, through to bereavement and at any time in the future that there is a need. The Team provides emotional and mental support, and offers advice on any financial support that may be available. This care is offered to all members of the Family including children.

Complementary Therapy

Our therapist offers alternative treatments to patients to help ease their pain.

Aromatherapy massages offer a wide range of benefits to our patients including stress reduction, increased calmness and relaxation, decrease in muscle tension and a reduction of symptoms of depression.

This service is offered within our Day Centre for free to all our patients.

Welfare Benefits Adviser

Our welfare benefits advisers provide face to face and telephone advice to people who need guidance on welfare benefits.

When the unexpected happens the last thing people want to think of is their finances and our welfare benefits advisers are there to help.

Our welfare benefits advisers can go through all  in comings and outgoings and give the best possible advice on what benefits our patients may be entitled too.

Volunteers

At the Macmillan Unit we are very lucky to have over 100 Volunteers who give up their valuable time to help our Patients.

Our Volunteers help out in many ways including helping the Staff on the wards, bringing Patients in to our Day Centre, giving Art Classes, providing aromatherapy, and companionship.

In 2018 our volunteers were recognised with the highest honour ‘The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service’ 

It is quite clear that the Macmillan Unit could not offer the care that it does without the dedication of our Volunteers.

Physiotherapy

Our team of physiotherapists and occupational therapists work with patients to help improve their mobility and to maintain their independence and make them feel more comfortable.

Physiotherapists offer a vital and dynamic approach to Rehabilitative Palliative Care. Not only can physiotherapists deliver high quality physical assessments and treatments tailored to an individual’s need, but these can be utilised across a range of advanced diagnoses and uncontrolled symptoms. Their proactive approach, with attention to quality of life and risk management in dual measure, allows them to work in partnership with patients to plan for future challenges and prevent avoidable mobility issues.

Faith

‘Macmillan Caring Locally’ built the Chapel at Christchurch Hospital in partnership with Christchurch Hospital League of Friends and the Bournemouth Free Church Council.

Adjacent to the Macmillan Unit, the Chapel provides a haven of peace within the Hospital for all denominations, races and creeds.

The Garden

The Macmillan Unit has a beautiful landscaped garden, which is the envy of all the wards at Christchurch Hospital. It is funded by Macmillan and includes an aviary and a well stocked fish pond with waterfall.

The gentle lapping of the water tumbling over the waterfall, added to chirping sound of tropical birds, helps to make this stunning garden a refuge of tranquility for our Patients and Visitors.