MacMillan nurses

You’ll get mixed opinions Auntieflo
My contribution is useless, but I expect others have a more positive view.

My late MILs experience with them was not good.

Thing is a lot of people think all nurses are “angels” and they are definitely not. I met a nurse through a group I was going to. She got really into crafting and told me that was what she really loved and she wished she could turn it into a business instead of nursing. Imagine my surprise when not that long afterwards she turned up at a care home being the newly appointed Admiral Nurse for our area working with dementia patients. As my Mum had dementia I had a chat to her and she remembered me but seemed quite uninterested in what I was telling her and spoke to Mum through me which I thought showed a lack of understanding of dementia.

Did the SueRyder nurse not leave her contact number? I would ring her.

Marie Curie nurses excellent in my experience.

I would give MacMillan a try. When my DH was diagnosed with cancer, ours were helpful, although we didn't require help at home.

A while ago now, but all the McMillan nurses did for my failing in laws was have a chat over a cup of tea. When asked for help with the meds they were told that it wasn't their job. If you need help then you should contact social services who will do an assessment.

My husband's McMillan nurse was a lifeline for us when he was terminal . We wouldn't have got DLA and carers allowance if it wasn't for her . She was wonderful . This was October 2003 until February 2004 when my husband died.

The McMillan skin nurse at the hospital was wonderful as well. My husband had grade 4 malignant melanoma and was given 5 years in 2001 to live. He lived 3.

So often when nurses or doctors are not up to scratch we feel reluctant to complain in case that affects future treatment of ourselves or loved ones. I had a really excellent face to face appt with one of our GPs yesterday. And DH has had some good experiences with hospital consultants and yesterday very caring treatment at the endoscopy clinic.
But I have had a very unpleasant telephone conversation with another GP at the surgery.

I can't comment on Macmillan nurses apart from a less than helpful or sympathetic conversation with a cancer clinical nurse who is linked with MacMillan. It didn't give me confidence to ring them again.
So I think like everywhere some people are good at their job and some not. And when we are up to our eyes in problems, it's easier to let bad treatment go. But it is upsetting.
I have heard better comments about Marie Curie nurses than MacMillan.

Marie Curie nurses got us through my husbands last six weeks day and night if I needed them they were wonderful.

Thanks for all your comments.
I will give Sue Ryder a call tomorrow. All my meds are making me sleep more and the day just disappears

My first post was very brief, but it was the Marie Curie nurses who came good and helped organize carers for DH. From a local agency, they came 3x a day to make sure DH was clean and comfortable in his final few weeks.
They also recommended an alarm thingy (£16 a month). I didn’t think we’d need it, but glad I had it, when DH fell out of bed and I couldn’t move him.

The Macmillan nurses and associated hospice were amazing in their help and care of my dad and sister, we couldn't have asked or received more help.

Georgesgran

You’ll get mixed opinions Auntieflo
My contribution is useless, but I expect others have a more positive view.

Me too! When DH was dying of cancer and I was his sole caterer,I called them. They more or less told me to b….er off as I was being helped by the local hospice. When I mentioned it to the consultant, he was horrified!
Not a fan…

From my own experience of managing a large service made up of several specialist nursing teams the job description and the individual interpretation of the role means that a nurse with the same badge e.g. Macmillan can differ widely from area to area. If it's help with daily living rather than nursing care then Local Council Social Services Dept is the place to start. The NHS website also has a large amount of information and links. I hope you find a service which helps.