Cornhill Macmillan Centre A service for people with cancer and other life limiting illnesses Information leaflet for patients and carers Perth and Kinross Specialist Palliative Care Services Cornhill Macmillan Centre Perth Royal Infirmary Jeanfield Road Perth PH1 1NX
Contents Specialist Palliative Care Services in Perth & Kinross 3 Day Care Services 4 Inpatient Unit 4 Visiting times in the Inpatient Unit 5 Medication 5 Valuables 5 Facilities 5 Enquiries 5 Discharge 6 Physiotherapy 6 Occupational Therapy 6 Nutritional advice 7 Pharmacy 7 Social Work 7 Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) 7 Volunteer Services 7 Chaplaincy and Spiritual Care 8 Perth Royal Infirmary (PRI) Hospital Palliative Care Team 8 Community Macmillan Nursing Service 8 Directions 9 By bus 9 By car 9 Parking 9 Further information 9 Cornhill Macmillan Centre Contact Numbers 10 2
Cornhill Macmillan Centre is a purpose built Specialist Palliative Care Unit staffed by a dedicated team The services are managed by NHS Tayside with ongoing support and involvement from Macmillan Cancer Support Access to Specialist Palliative Care Services You can discuss referral to any aspect of the service through your hospital doctor, GP, nurse or any other healthcare professional. Service Components 10 bedded inpatient unit supported by doctors and nursing staff, including Advanced Nurse Practitioners and Allied Health Professionals Day Services including Day Care, Drop In facility and Outpatient clinics Hospital Specialist Palliative Care Team covering Perth Royal Infirmary Community Macmillan Clinical Nurse Specialists These services are for individuals aged 18 and over who have a life limiting illness Philosophy of Care We aim to achieve the best quality of life possible for patients and their families when they are affected by illnesses that cannot be cured. Palliative care aims to relieve physical symptoms as well as addressing social, emotional and spiritual needs. Key Values As a team, the following key values underpin our work: Our care is maintaining dignity and quality of life for those facing a life limiting illness Actively listening to patients and carers, encouraging open communication and supporting them to talk about their feelings, worries and anxieties Offering advice and information regarding pain, symptom management, medication, treatments and the changes that it may make to their life 3
Offering information about practical and financial help available including referral to appropriate services Rehabilitating patients to become as positive and as independent as possible Offer bereavement and family support Day Care Services Day Care Services operates over Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Wednesday is a dedicated Drop in Day, which provides a wide range of outpatient services, including workshops, information, books, leaflets, advice and support; to patients, families and carers. The service offers patients and carers increased choice, flexibility and support and provides an opportunity to access specialist staff, including medical, nursing, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and social work input, including benefit advice. Complementary therapies are available by arrangement during both Day Care and Drop in Day attendance. Complementary therapies can also be accessed during an inpatient stay. Inpatient Unit Cornhill Macmillan Centre provides 24 hour specialist palliative care to patients and support to those closest to them. This care will be provided by a multi-disciplinary team of professional colleagues within 10 single rooms which are both welcoming and relaxing. Patients can be admitted for short periods of time for rehabilitation or management of problems associated with advanced illness. The team also provides care that is supportive and dignified when it is recognised that a person is nearing the end of their life. Presently, patients can be admitted to the unit Monday to Friday between 9.00am and 5.00pm, excluding public holidays. Carers are welcome to participate in all aspects of patient care. There are facilities for some relatives to stay overnight, but as accommodation is limited, please speak to the nursing staff about making arrangements. 4
On admission, a period of assessment and treatment will be undertaken by the whole team and within two weeks, you and your family will be offered the opportunity to discuss how things are going and agree a future plan of care. Following this time, if you no longer require specialist palliative care or if your needs are best met by another service, then discharge or transfer will be discussed with both yourself and your family. As it is not possible to offer long term care, it may be necessary for patients to move to an alternative place of care. Visiting times in the Inpatient Unit: There is a flexible approach to visiting but we ask that visitors try to keep to the times between 1.30pm 8.00pm Close family, friends and carers may visit outwith these designated times through prior arrangement with the nurse in charge Children are welcome but must be supervised at all times Pets are also welcome to visit Medication: It would be helpful to bring in medicines that you are currently using. Some of these medicines may be used whilst you are in Cornhill Macmillan Centre with the consent of you or your carer. Valuables: Patients are discouraged from bringing valuables or sums of money into the centre. Facilities: In your room, there is a folder providing details regarding tea and coffee facilities, visiting hours, gifts and donations and other relevant information about the inpatient unit. Enquiries: If a relative wishes to speak to a doctor, this can be arranged between the hours of 9.00am 5.00pm, Monday to Friday, by speaking with the patient s dedicated nurse on shift. If your or your relatives have any worries, concerns or complaints about any aspect of your care, please speak to the nurse in charge. 5
Discharge: We aim to discharge patients home, with support if required. The support you require may not always be able to be provided in your own home and may have to be provided within another care setting. Your discharge requirements and plan will be discussed with you and your family. Following discharge, other services from Cornhill Macmillan Centre may be available to monitor symptoms and offer ongoing support as appropriate. It is not possible to offer patients intensive rehabilitation within Cornhill Macmillan Centre although there is an excellent service offered by the Allied Health Professional (AHP) team, including: Physiotherapy A physiotherapy service is available for patients. The physiotherapist completes an individual assessment to plan an appropriate treatment regime. Physiotherapy aims to improve overall quality of life through optimising and restoring function, to decrease disability and pain and improve conditioning and mobility. This may be achieved through a variety of exercises. These may include breathing control, positioning and pacing activities, the provision of appropriate mobility aids and education and participation of family and carers. A Lymphoedema service is offered at Cornhill Macmillan Centre. This service is provided as an outpatient service, as well as input to the inpatient unit as required. Following initial assessment, an appropriate individual treatment plan will be discussed. The main focus of care is to provide education and treatment to manage lymphoedema and to encourage and support people to self manage their condition. Occupational Therapy (OT) Working within the team, the Occupational Therapist (OT) will assess your physical, emotional and social functions. Using a person-centred approach, the OT will set goals and provide interventions focused on enhancing general well-being and optimising independence with daily living tasks with you and your family. 6
Occupational therapy intervention can take place within the Cornhill Macmillan Centre inpatient unit, at home or elsewhere in the community, depending on the patient and carers specific needs and priorities. The OT will organise any equipment or adaptations which may help at home and if needed will provide transitional support and/or rehabilitation during and after discharge from the inpatient unit. Nutritional Advice Arrangements can be made to meet with the dietitian to discuss any questions or concerns about food and eating. Recognising that everyone has different food preferences, interest in food and ability to eat, the dietitian will work with individual patients and carers to help make choices that are acceptable to them. The dietitian can also help with managing nutrition related problems such as poor appetite, swallowing problems and taste changes. Pharmacy The pharmacy team work together with the patient and other members of the multidisciplinary team to ensure that every patient achieves the most from their prescribed medications. Technical staff are involved in the ordering and supply of all the medicines prescribed during each patient s stay. The clinical pharmacist regularly reviews individual patient s medicines during their stay and is available to discuss any queries. Prior to discharge from Cornhill Macmillan Centre, the pharmacist will discuss medicines with the patient and family and may liaise with the local chemist and GP practice pharmacist to ensure all the patient s needs are met. Social Work Cornhill Macmillan Centre maintains links with mainstream social services and relevant agencies which are a priority in following patients across different care settings and staff can make patient/carer referrals to this service as required. Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) A senior healthcare professional may discuss CPR with you. An information leaflet is available. Volunteer Services Our extensive team of volunteers, supported by a Volunteer Services Manager, provide an essential and valuable support service. Input includes providing transport to and from patients homes for attendance at Day Care, reception duties, hospitality, social activities, support, library and information areas and flower arranging. 7
Contact with this part of the service assists in offering guidance in respect of the process involved in donations and contributions to Cornhill Macmillan Centre. Chaplaincy and Spiritual Care The chaplain from Perth Royal Infirmary can be contacted by the multi-disciplinary team of Cornhill Macmillan Centre to provide appropriate spiritual care to patients, visitors and staff, regardless of faith or life stance. The sanctuary is a space for quiet reflection and there are Memory Books on display for use of remembrance. Perth Royal Infirmary (PRI) Hospital Palliative Care Team The Hospital Specialist Palliative Care Team concentrates on strengthening nursing input and improving care for patients and their families within PRI. This role includes the support of other professionals via appropriate advice, support and education to facilitate and enhance the delivery of effective generalist and specialist palliative care. The Hospital Palliative Care Team is available Monday to Friday from 9.00am to 5.00pm. Community Macmillan Nursing Service The Community Macmillan Nurses in Perth and Kinross are registered nurses specialising in community palliative care. Our service provides advice and support when patients and families needs are complex. This is particularly recommended when: Symptom control is difficult to achieve Emotional support is required if individuals are having difficulty in coping with their illness and its treatments Further information is required to help with decision making Not all people with a life limiting illness will need a Community Macmillan Nurse. Your GP or district nurse will assess your situation and discuss with you if referral to this specialist service is appropriate. The responsibility for your care in the community remains with the patient s GP and District Nurse. 8
Following referral to our service, contact may be made by: Telephone Clinic appointment An appointment within your own home The Community Macmillan Clinical Nurse Specialist service is available Monday to Friday from 9.00am to 5.00pm. Directions Most services are based at Cornhill Macmillan Centre set in the grounds of Perth Royal Infirmary which can be accessed: By Bus: There is a local bus service available which offers regular links with PRI and the centre of town. A separate information leaflet is available for the bus service which operates between PRI and Ninewells Hospital. By Car: Access is from Jeanfield Road or by turning into Western Avenue off Rose Crescent. Parking: There is a designated car park in front of Cornhill Macmillan Centre for the use of patients, carers and families. Entry is through a barrier and exit by use of a token available from the Inpatient Unit. Further Information If you require further information about any of the services provided, these can be found on our website www.nhstayside.scot.nhs.uk under Our Services then A-Z then Specialist Palliative Care or please contact Cornhill Macmillan Centre direct on any of the numbers overleaf: NHS Tayside is a No Smoking organisation but has recently updated its smoking policy to permit the use of e-cigarettes within the Board s grounds. 9
Cornhill Macmillan Centre Contacts: General Enquiries 01738 413000 Inpatient Unit 01738 413001 Day Services 01738 413005 Community Macmillan Nursing Team 01738 413012 PRI Hospital Palliative Care Team 01738 473559 Volunteer Services 01738 413013 Donations and contributions Developed by Perth & Kinross Specialist Palliative Care Services using current research and clinical guidelines This information leaflet has been reviewed with the help of patients Revised: 01/2019 Review: 01/2021 LN1274 10