About palliative care

Palliative care is support and advice for people approaching the end of their life, as well as those with life-limiting conditions who are not dying.

We aim to improve the quality of life of patients and their families. Our focus is on comfort and managing symptoms, rather than cure.

The Kingston Hospital Specialist Palliative Care Team is made up of:

  • palliative care specialist nurses
  • doctors in palliative medicine
  • social workers.

What we do

The Specialist Palliative Care Team works with other professionals who are involved in your care while you are in hospital. We do not take control over your care.

Our role can include:

  • Advice on pain management.
  • Advice on the management of other symptoms caused by your illness. This could include, for example, nausea, anxiety, depression, fatigue or lack of appetite.
  • Support and information to help you make decisions about the care and treatment you might be offered.
  • Help for you and your family to adjust to the practicalities of living with an advanced or progressive illness.
  • Emotional and spiritual support for you and your family.
  • We can also put you in touch with our hospital Chaplaincy, Pastoral and Spiritual Support Service. This service offers a multicultural approach serving people of all faiths and life philosophies.
  • Referring you to other support available in the hospital if you need it (for example, the cancer counselling team).
  • Referring you to local community teams and hospices for ongoing care and support. If you need palliative care once you leave hospital, your local community palliative care team will take over.

How we get involved

  • Your doctor or nurse will contact us if they think we can help you.
  • One of our team will be allocated as your palliative care key worker while you are in hospital. Other members of the team will also support you.
  • Your palliative care key worker will visit you to talk about your physical, emotional, social or spiritual needs.
  • We will agree a plan of care with you and the ward team. We will involve any family members or carers as necessary. You can tell your key worker if you want a written copy of this plan of care.
  • While you are in hospital, we will review your care regularly.
  • We will discuss care options that are available to you and what might be available to you as your needs change. We can write an advance care plan that reflects your wishes. We will discuss your care needs with the health and care professionals who will support you when you leave hospital.
  • If you are thinking about organ or tissue donation to help other people, we can discuss this with you.

The specialist palliative care team

The team is available 7 days a week, 9am to 5pm.

Ask your hospital nurse or doctor to contact us if you or your family would like to talk with us.

Or you can leave a message for us on 020 8934 2780.

Name of your palliative care key worker:

 

 

More information