
Royal Wolverhampton Hospitals NHS TrustMedical Staff Induction Day Specialist Palliative Care at New Cross Hospital • Dr Clare Marlow • Consultant in Palliative Medicine
Definition of Palliative Care • Active total care of patients whose disease no longer responds to curative treatment, • Focusing on quality of life and • Integrating the • physical • psychological • spiritual • social aspects of care
Palliative care • Cancer and non-cancer • requires a collaborative (multi-professional) approach • follows the patient: Provided at home, in nursing homes, in residential care, in hospitals and in specialist units
The palliative care approach • is good clinical practice • informed by a knowledge and practice of palliative care principles • should be a component of health care available to all patients who need it
3 Specialist Palliative Care Nurses 2 Consultants (sessional input) and 1 Specialty Registrar in Palliative Medicine 1 Palliative / End-of-Life Care Facilitator 2 Specialist Occupational Therapists 2 Palliative Care Social Workers 2 Specialist Physiotherapists The team is based in New Cross Hospital and supported by a Team Co-ordinator Hospital Support Specialist Palliative Care Team
Why refer to the specialistpalliative care nurses? • Advice: • For pain and symptom management • If complex psycho-social issues identified • Help with planning a complex discharge • Identification of patients who require specialist in-patient care within a hospice setting
Why refer to the palliative care social worker ? • Patients with palliative social care needs: • To plan and organise social care after discharge • To assist with the transition into palliative care nursing homes • For financial advice for both patient and carers
Why refer to the specialist OTand Physiotherapist ? • Give patients some autonomy back • Active rehabilitation may be key to best quality of life • For preparing a successful discharge home with appropriate equipment • Guiding family on practical issues for future care
Services provided byCompton Hospice • Home Care and Hospice at Home • Day Care • In-Patient Admissions for: • Pain & Symptom Control • Psychological Support • Rehabilitation • Terminal care • Bereavement Support
In-Patient Admissions atCompton Hospice • 18 Beds for catchment area of over one Million Population • Average Stay 14 Days (not a long stay facility) • Waiting List operates • Highest needs for Specialist Care take priority • 60% Discharged, 40% Die in the Hospice
The Palliative Care Team may be contacted on Ext 5212 (Monday - Friday) Advice can be obtained out of hours from the On-Call Medical Team via Compton Hospice (0845 2255497)