Palliative care
aims to improve the quality of life for patients and their families
facing the problems associated with a serious
illness. Our multi-professional team offers support
to patients and carers and specialist advice to teams looking after
them.
Inpatients may be visited by the team on the
ward.
After assessment, patients will be told how to get in touch with
their named palliative care consultant. The team has an advisory
role in inpatients' care and works alongside doctors and nurses to:
- Help with pain and other symptoms, which may be
problematic
- Offer support to patients and their families
- Act as a link between hospital and home
- Members of the team can help with planning discharge from
hospital and arranging support for patients and their families at
home.
- Provide information on bereavement support available
Inpatients can be referred by contacting the team office on
0117 342 3507 or via switchboard.
Outpatients clinic
Patients will be seen by a doctor who specialises in palliative
care. The initial appointment will take 30-40 minutes and patients
will be offered follow up appointments as required. The clinics are
held at the Bristol Haematology and Oncology Centre.
Both GPs and hospital doctors can refer for an outpatients
consultation. A letter of referral should be sent to the team
stating the reasons for referral and a summary of patient's
history.
Community support
If a patient needs ongoing community support after discharge
home, they may be offered referral to St Peter's hospice community
team. This can be done by any healthcare professional. Referral
forms can be downloaded directly from the hospice's website: http://www.stpetershospice.org.uk/
