Specialist palliative care
* Specialist palliative care provides help and support to people with serious progressive illnesses such as cancer and heart disease.
* Palliative care can also be known as 'end of life' care. The word palliative is derived from the latin word 'pallum' meaning to cloak, in other words symptoms are eased but the underlying condition is not cured. The ethos of palliative care is centred around maximising a person's quality of life.
* Special support is available to people from black and minority ethnic communities so that they can access the services available
What does the service do?
Specialist palliative care is a support service available in people’s homes and other community settings delivered by the specialist palliative care team.
Patients suffering from a serious progressive illness may develop symptoms that need special attention to control. Patients may have anxieties or family or financial problems but do not know where to go for help. The specialist palliative care service provides advice and support to patients, their carers and families to help them deal with these and any other problems, working to ensure the patient has the best quality of life possible.
The team consists of:
- Macmillan clinical nurse
- Specialists and consultants in palliative medicine, all of whom have extensive skills in palliative care.
We work in partnership with your district nurse, GP and other professionals.
How can I access the service?
Referrals are made by your:
- GP
- District nurse
- Hospital / hospice team
- Named nurse.
Your GP remains responsible for your medical care and your district nurse/ named nurse will continue to manage your nursing care. If you need urgent advice please contact your GP or District Nurse.
Contact details
Specialist Palliative Care Team
Arthur’s Hill Clinic
Douglas Terrace
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE4 6BT
Tel: (0191) 226 1315
Fax: (0191) 219 5204
Visits are normally made between 8.30 am – 5.00 pm Monday to Friday
If you telephone outside these hours you will be able to leave a message on our answer machine.
Useful leaflets
Grieving - this leaflet may provide some useful information for people who have been recently bereaved.
The Northumberland, Tyne and Wear, NHS Trust also produces a range of useful self-help leaflets which are available through the Patient Information Centre website.
