Hospital Specialist Palliative Care Service
What is palliative care? Palliative care is an approach that aims to improve the quality of life for patients facing a serious illness and their familes, through the assessment and management of physical symptoms and psychological, spiritual and social issues. What is the Hospital Specialist Palliative Care Service? We are a team of hospital based doctors, nurses and pharmacists who specialise in palliative care. We act as a specialist resource for other staff in the hospital, assisting them in the management of complex symptoms and in supporting patients and families throughout their illness. What can we offer? We offer specialist advice on complex symptoms such as pain, nausea and breathlessness. We recognise that facing a potentially life-threatening illness may leave you feeling anxious, worried or uncertain about the future and that you may have many questions. We can help support you at this time and can also help provide information regarding your illness, the help available and how to access it. We can also advise you on the palliative care services available near your home, which you may wish to use when you leave hospital. 1
How do we do this? We will see you at any stage of your illness from diagnosis onwards We work alongside your own team of doctors, nurses and other health care professionals such as occupational therapists, physiotherapists, social workers, dieticians and chaplains The level of our involvement is based on an initial comprehensive assessment by a member of our team We aim to make an assessment visit within one to three working days, depending on the urgency of the referral, and will offer follow-up visits if appropriate We liaise closely with your GP, community teams and other hospital palliative care teams. 2
How are referrals made to the Hospital Specialist Palliative Care Service? Any healthcare professional can refer a patient in hospital to us and will have agreed this with the consultant / team primarily responsible for the patient s care. Patients and carers can also ask their ward team to make a referral to us. Contact details for Hospital Specialist Palliative Care Service We are available Monday to Friday, excluding bank holidays, and can be contacted on the following number: Attach label with team phone number and Monday to Friday times If the answer machine is on please leave a clear message with your name and telephone number. For messages outside of the stated hours, the call will be returned on the next working day. For urgent advice at home please contact your GP, District Nurse or Community Palliative Care Nurse. 3
On discharge from hospital you may require other services which include: Community Specialist Palliative Care Nurses This is an opportunity to have the support of a Specialist Palliative Care Nurse in your home. Community Specialist Palliative Care Nurses can help you by giving you advice and information about your illness, including management of any symptoms you might have and they can also offer support to your carers. They work closely with your GP and District Nurse in managing these symptoms, however your GP and District Nurse will remain your key workers in the community. The Community Specialist Palliative Care Nurses do not provide you with a hands on nursing service. Specialist Palliative Care in an Inpatient Unit /Hospice There are occasions when admission to a hospice (specialist palliative care unit) may be needed for management of complex symptoms, psychological or spiritual issues, rehabilitation or end of life care. Specialist Palliative Care Day Hospice or Therapy Centre This is an opportunity to avail of the services of the hospice (specialist palliative care unit) as a day patient or an outpatient. You will be given written information on this service by the hospital based team if you are being referred to. Palliative Medicine Outpatient Clinic You can be seen by a palliative medicine doctor in an outpatient setting, either as a follow-up to an inpatient stay or following a referral by your consultant / GP. Your appointment will be at either the hospital or the local hospice. 4
The Specialist Palliative Care Team would like to know what you think of the service provided. If you feel that you have been helped by our service or you feel there is something that could be improved, send your comments to: The Palliative Care Team Leader, Palliative Care Team Office, Cancer Centre, Belfast City Hospital, Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7AB. BHSCT August 2009