Specialist Palliative Care
Description of service
Supporting, advocating for and educating patients and families with life limiting palliative conditions to have the best quality of life until they die. This includes episodic personalised care to manage the physical, emotional and psychological needs as necessary following a holistic assessment. We also signpost and refer to appropriate services and co-ordinate care as a named keyworker. We work closely alongside other members of the MDT, including GPs (attending monthly GSF meetings), Acute trust (attending weekly MDTS), District Nurses, Occupational Therapists (weekly ICT meetings) & other Community Nursing Services.
As SPC we provide both formal and informal training to other health professionals to upskill them to ensure palliative patients receive the optimum level of care.
Specialities covered:
- Advanced symptom management
- Advance care planning
- Psychological support, and self-management wherever possible.
- Education provision to other health care professionals.
Areas covered:
- Community Work – patient’s homes and clinics.
- Garden House Hospice for weekly medical meetings.
- Lister Hospital shadowing the palliative team.
- Locality Sites.
- Virtual MDTs.
- Robertson House for shadowing the Duty Nurse.
Main contacts:
Sarah Thompson and Jemma Finch
Professional Clinical Leads – Palliative Care and End of Life Care
sarah.thompson47@nhs.net - 0777 0284480 Jemma.finch1@nhs.net - 07867 141829
Dress Code/Uniform:
Uniform to be worn.
Recommended reading and useful websites
- Student placement information pack
- Macmillan booklet - "End of Life: A Guide"
Preparing for your placement
- Consider learning objectives wishing to achieve during placement
What to bring on your first day:
- Practice placement information
- Pad and paperwork to be completed by mentor
What to expect on your first day:
- A warm welcome!
- Introduction to your mentor and the larger team
- Completion of paperwork
- Community visits
