Carer Support Surrey, Middlesex & South West London

At Princess Alice Hospice we recognise that life-limiting illness affects the whole family, whatever “family” looks like and provide support not only to our patients but to those close to them.

We all have a role in making sure that friends, family members and carers feel welcome and supported at Princess Alice Hospice. Some members of staff will work more intensely with family members/carers than others. This page gives details of some of the specific services available and links to sources of further information.

If you are interested in any of these services or would like more information you can contact our Families and Carers Lead, Liz Anderson, on 0300 1020100 (option 3) or via email to [email protected] or [email protected]

If you would like to know more about the support available to family members/carers please provide your details via our online form and one of our team will be in touch.

Family and Carers Support Registration online form

Family and carers coffee morning

Every Thursday we hold a coffee morning, which is open to family members/friends/carers of anyone with a life limiting illness. The person who is ill needn’t be under the care of Princess Alice Hospice. It’s a drop in and so there is no need to let us know if you are coming.

It’s a chance to chat over any concerns and share ideas. Our Family and Carers Lead, Liz attends every week and can answer questions you might have about supporting someone who is seriously ill, and the support available to you from Princess Alice Hospice and in the community.

Please note: The coffee morning is only for family members/carers. If you would like to attend together with the person who you are caring for/supporting please see details of our Wellbeing Centre programme and/or Compassionate Cafes.

This is also not a Bereavement Cafe. For details of the Bereavement Cafes please see info below on bereavement support or click here.

Family and carers online discussion group

The Family and Carers discussion group, Wednesday 10am-11am, provides an opportunity for those who might find it difficult to get to Princess Alice Hospice to meet with others supporting someone with a life limiting illness.

The group is informal and topic for discussion each week will depend on the needs and preferences of those attending. The patient need not be under the care of Princess Alice Hospice.

Please contact us if you are interested so we can send you the link to join.

Family and carers rolling programme

Our rolling programme is series of discussions on coping with the emotional and practical challenges that you may face when someone close to you is unwell. It includes sessions with a Senior Palliative Care nurse and the staff of our Enhanced Support services where you can ask any questions you may have about caring for someone with a life-limiting illness. It’s a chance for you to get together with others who may be in similar situations, share concerns, tips and ideas.

The group is open to anyone who is supporting someone with a life-limiting illness and patients do not need to be under the care of Princess Alice for a family member/carer to attend.

Each week we look at a different topic. These will include:

Supporting someone who is seriously ill. Living well: eating and drinking, days out and away.
Coping with emotions when someone close to us is seriously ill.
Including a short mindfulness practice with our Senior Healthcare Practitioner.
Aids and adaptations to make everyday life easier.
Planning for the future.
Practical care: hints and tips for caring for someone at home. Facilitated by the staff of our Enhanced Support Service.
What to expect when the person becomes less well – with a chance to ask a Senior Palliative Care Nurse any questions.
What next? (coming up with personalised ideas to support you and the person you are caring for).

If you are interested in joining the next series please contact us on 0300 1020100 (option 3) or via email to [email protected] or [email protected].

Information and signposting

We can sometimes signpost/refer you to other internal or external services and resources. If you have any questions about supporting someone with a serious illness, coping with the emotional impact on you or others, or support available to you please contact our Family and Carers Lead, Liz Anderson, who will arrange a convenient time for you to talk things through and offer personalised information and advice.

Hear4U listening service

“Hear 4You” is a listening support service for family members/carers of Princess Alice Hospice patients. This is a joint project between Spiritual Care, Bereavement and Carer support.

At Princess Alice we recognise that when someone becomes seriously ill it affects the whole family. The diagnosis of a loved one with a life-limiting illness, taking on new responsibilities as a carer, and/or a deterioration in someone’s health have an emotional impact on those around them. It’s common for family members/carers to grapple with feelings of loss, anger, anxiety, fear, helplessness, guilt and frustration.

The aim is to provide family members/carers with a safe, confidential place to explore their feelings in relation to the illness of someone close to them, and the uncertainty it can bring. Preventative support for ‘anticipatory grief’ can help to lessen the burden of grief at a later stage.

These one-to-one support sessions are provided, free of charge, by our in-house trained, supervised Spiritual Care and Bereavement Support Volunteers. Sessions can be offered face to face at the hospice, over the phone or online.

Wellbeing centre activities for family and carers

Most of our Wellbeing Centre Activities are open to family members/carers as well as patients (with some exceptions –e.g. exercise, patient support group). Family members/carers can attend on their own or together with the patient.

Please let us know if you are interested in attending so that we can plan for numbers and any special arrangements.

The Wellbeing Centre: Advice & Support – Princess Alice Hospice

Support for children and young people

When dealing with stress and loss, children and young people may have different needs to adults, so we provide support especially for them. Our specialist social workers offer advice for children, young people and parents in individual and family sessions. There’s no time limit – we’ll be here for as long as you need us. We can also help school staff or other professionals to offer support.

The Dovetail Group meets monthly and provides an opportunity for bereaved children and young people to get together in a friendly space, where practical and emotional support is offered whilst having fun with creative activities.

List of family/carer resources in our care area

Support for Carers in our care area

Information on carer breaks and respite

National

NHS carer breaks and respite information:

Carers’ breaks and respite care – Social care and support guide – NHS

Surrey

GP Carer Prescription Service:

Surrey GPs offer a carer break scheme for those registered with their GP as a carer. The scheme is administered by Surrey Independent Living Service. A one-off payment of £300 is available to help pay for services or equipment.

SILC – GP Carer Prescription Service

Action for Carers’ Surrey:

Carer Support Advisors can help you apply for funding from local or national grant schemes for a break.

Tel. 0303 040 1234 email [email protected] or text (SMS) on 07723 486730.

Breaks and respite | Action for Carers

Crossroads:

Offer a free, non-means tested carer replacement service to those caring for someone in the last 12 months of life

End of Life Care – Crossroads Care Surrey

Richmond

Richmond Carers Centre can support you in searching and applying for a grant for a break

Carers Rights and Entitlements – Richmond Carers Centre

Kingston

Kingston Carers Network can advise on relief care. Relief care may be funded: up to 72 hours a year or as a one off discretionary payment. This is not means tested but depends on the impact your caring responsibilities are having on you.

Taking breaks from caring (respite care) – www.kingston.gov.uk

Compassionate Neighbours

Help with bereavement

Spiritual care

The Shed

Alain Bakas

We will never be able to thank the team at Princess Alice Hospice enough for the love, care, dignity, and compassion they showed our papa and our whole family. They cared for my papa for a month, and then welcomed him back again for his final 8 days before he passed on 3rd April 2026. Every single member of staff became like family to us during the hardest time of our lives. Their kindness, patience, support, and genuine compassion will stay in our hearts and minds forever. They not only cared for our papa with dignity and respect, but they also supported all of us emotionally every step of the way. We are so grateful for everything they did for our papa and for the comfort they brought him in his final days. Thank you again to the entire team for the incredible work you do every day. You are truly special people, and we will never forget you.

Darek Kubik

The shop in Claygate on Parade is well run and stocked place. The manager Mrs Roheana is helpful and friendly person...well done

Nicola Jeebaun

So grateful for the kind and caring team at Easher. They supported us so much while spending our last days with mum Will always be grateful From the Greenaway family

Stephen Nicholson

I'm deeply grateful for the exceptional care and support provided by Princess Alice Hospice in Esher. Their warm and helpful staff made a significant difference during a difficult time after losing my grandfather to prostate cancer in July 2017. The bereavement team and therapy offered were invaluable in helping me cope with the loss and navigate my grief. I'm thankful for their kindness and dedication. Massive shout out to Lynne my bereavement councillor who was incredible with me, I’ll never forget you.

Jo G

My Mum was there for 3 weeks before she passed away in Nov . The staff and level of care was amazing, she was loved by the staff. They couldn't of done more for her. Myself and my sister were also supported. We donated a large memorial feather in our Mums memory. It's such a shame that most if their funding comes from donations.

Robert Crapnell

1st class care for my wife, I will never forget the care and attention. My will has provsion to say thank you.

Ruby Bhurji

My dad passed away in jan 26th 2005. The staff was amazing. So supportive through our difficult times. They really looked after dad. They always had a smile on their faces. So grateful for everything they did for dad and us. Just want to say a big thank you and keep up with all the hard work you all do.

Rosanna Stech

The call out night service team of Princess Alice were amazing with my Granny in her last few days. She was able to stay in her own home and have their amazing team look after her when we called them. I would like to especially say a big thank you to Camilla who was always so cheerful, professional and put us at ease when we really needed it. She would remember our family members names despite being called out to a number of houses every evening and was always a reassuring voice when she answered the phone. She made a real difference to my Granny’s end of life and I wouldn’t have wanted her to be under any other care. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

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