People who are alone or with limited family resources to draw upon can find illness particularly difficult, although it is not easy, even when you are surrounded by family and friends. Similarly, friends and relatives of people who are seriously ill can find it hard to cope especially when the situation is the result of an accident or the onset has been sudden and unexpected, and progress is slow.
The UCKG HelpCentre’s Patient Care group helps all concerned in these situations. The best way to contact us is via the Helpline Call Centre on 020 7686 6000 or 0870 068 2000 if calling from outside London. How we work
Patient Care is a group of generous minded men and women who have volunteered to lessen the burden of illness on patients and their families by extending the hand of friendship and support to them. On request, volunteers provide company and a listening ear. They make regular visits to patients in hospitals, hospices, nursing homes or their own homes and will also be there for the patient’s family if this is required. Depending on the nature of the illness, such support can be provided over weeks, months and even several years. The Patient Care group also offers prayers for the sick, but only with the full agreement of those concerned. Group members and the UCKG HelpCentre as a whole believe that prayer can contribute to a sick person’s recovery, alongside normal medical care. Who can benefit
The group gladly helps anyone facing health related issues, regardless of whether they are at home or in hospital or any other type of care facility. Patients may like to talk over their concerns about everyday commitments they cannot fulfill for the present along with worries associated with the illness itself. This can be particularly important for those who are alone in the world or have no family within easy reach, although there are times for everyone when it’s easiest to talk with a caring stranger. Family members can benefit from our support when they are finding it difficult to cope with the news of a loved one’s condition, or with additional responsibilities they have had to take on as a result of the illness.
