Palliative care

The goal of the palliative care service is to improve quality of life for both you and your family. Palliative care is provided by a team of doctors, nurses and other specialists, who work with a patient's other doctors to provide an extra layer of support. Palliative care is appropriate at any age and at any stage in a serious illness, and it can be provided together with curative treatment. 

The team includes a palliative medicine consultant, along with a registrar, three clinical nurse specialists, a social worker and an occupational therapist.

You may be referred to the palliative care services if you have been diagnosed with a life-limiting condition such as cancer, heart failure or motor neuron disease. You may have:

Complex symptoms resulting from the condition and/or
Complex psychological or social needs related to the condition which persist despite the care being provided by other professionals
You may be referred to palliative care so that you can get advice and support on: 

• Symptom control
• Psychological or social distress  
• Future care planning         
• The provision of end-of-life care

The hospital consultant who is responsible for your care can refer you to the palliative care team. The palliative care team can help the medical team to refer patients to a hospice or the community palliative care service that covers the patient’s home area.

Your appointment

Palliative care is an inpatient only service.