To speak to a specialist cancer nurse,
freefone the National Cancer Helpline
1800 200 700
Mon—Thurs 9am—7pm Fri 9am—5pm
Home Night Nursing
We provide a home nursing service called Night Nursing. Night nurses provide end of life care for cancer patients and their families in their own home. They can provide extra support to you and your loved one during what can be a difficult and anxious time.
All the Night nurses are An Bord Altranais registered, reference checked and Garda vetted.
Night nurses support you
The Irish Cancer Society's Night Nursing Service is available so that you and your loved one will receive nursing care, practical support and reassurance. We aim to keep your loved one comfortable and free of pain.
Night nurses are free of charge for up to 10 nights. In 2011, 2,015 patients throughout Ireland used the Night Nursing service, covering 8,114 nights of care. They tell us they feel more supported and reassured by the presence of a night nurse.
The Irish Cancer Society Night Nursing Service is funded by money generously donated on Daffodil Day in March every year, in addition to other fundraising efforts.
We rely completely on your voluntary donations to run the Night Nursing service.
How to book a night nurse
1) First, contact the health professional who is looking after your loved one - they'll need to make the request. The health professional that can make these requests are:
- General Practitioner
- Public Health Nurse
- Member of the Community Palliative Care Team
- Member of the Palliative Care Services in hospital
2) Once your health professional makes the booking, we make contact with a local night nurse, and we'll arrange for the nurse to visit your family.
Unfortunately, we can't take Night Nursing bookings directly from you, but if you have any questions at all, please phone the National Cancer Helpline on freefone 1800 200 700. Although we try our best to provide a Night Nurse to all patients, occasionally when the service is very busy, we may experience a shortage of nurses and maybe unable to provide one for your loved one.
Call our National Cancer Helpline
Freephone 1800 200 700 to talk to a specialist cancer nurse.
It's open Monday-Thursday from 9am to 7pm and Friday from 9am to 5pm.
Thank you, night nurses
"I would like to thank the Irish Cancer Society for providing a Night Nurse for the last five nights of our son’s life, which he spent with us at home. On the last evening, as Jack passed away, the night nurse was there as a crutch, and gave our son the dignity he deserved. On behalf of myself and my family I would like to thank the Night Nursing service for letting us be with our son and allow him to die in his own bed surrounded by those who loved him."
Night nursing makes a difference
"The support the Irish Cancer Society showed my Mam and our family in the final weeks of her illness was so appreciated. It allowed us to have one last wonderful Christmas with Mam at home. She was so happy in her last couple of weeks, in her own home, that it was almost hard to believe her illness was so serious. A very tough illness incredibly had a beautiful ending. Our family often talk of your nurses and how special they really are."
A night nurse's story
Night nursing care for the very ill patient nearing end of life at home is an invaluable service. So many families are reassured by the knowledge that their loved one is well cared for and comfortable.
Laura Halwax, Irish Cancer Society Night Nurse
