Our Services A - Z - Palliative Care and End of Life Care Services
About the service
Palliative care is treatment, care and support for people with life-limiting illness and their family and friends.
A life-limiting illness is an illness that cannot be cured. It covers a wide range of conditions that can include but is not limited to:
- Cancer
- Heart and lung disease
- Motor neurone disease and multiple sclerosis
- Alzheimer’s disease and dementia
- Renal / kidney disease
- Stroke and other neurological conditions
- Other life-limiting illnesses
- How can Palliative Care help?
Palliative care can provide an extra layer of support and is not just for people nearing the end of their life. The aim is to help you have as good a quality of life and to be as well and active as possible. This may involve:
- Managing pain and other distressing symptoms.
- Providing emotional, spiritual and psychological support.
- Offering social care and provide information about social and practical matters
- Providing time for you and your family and friends to discuss concerns or questions about the illness and treatment options.
- Helping you and your family and friends plan for the future.
- Helping you with arrangements to achieve your preferred place of care.
- Helping you and your family and friends with end of life care.
- Who provides Palliative Care?
Palliative care involves a range of services and a number of different professionals. They are trained with specific skills and knowledge and all have an equally important role in providing care to our patients and those important to them.
They can include:
- Doctors
- Nurses
- Support Workers
- Paramedics
- Pharmacists
- Physiotherapists
The Hospital and Community Specialist Palliative Care Teams also provide advice and support to the people that are providing care for you, and if your condition becomes complex or you are entering into the last year of your life.
The Hospital Specialist Palliative Care Team offers a 09:00am to 5:00pm service, 365 days a year (exceptional circumstances aside).
A 24/7 Specialist Palliative Care Advice Telephone Line is also available to healthcare professionals outside of these hours all day, and every day.
- Person-centred Palliative Care
Person-centred care means that:
- You are at the centre of planning and recognised as an equal partner in decisions made about your care.
- Your preferences and values are recognised and respected.
- Your cultural and spiritual needs are considered when care is being planned.
- You and your family and friends are treated with respect and dignity at all times.
By responding to your needs and those of your family and friends in this way, can help you to consider what is important to you, how and where you want to be treated and cared for.
- Advance care planning
One way of making people aware of your wishes is through advance care planning. This gives you an opportunity to think about and discuss what living with a serious illness might mean to you and your family, particularly if you become unable to make decisions for yourself. This information will then help those caring for you to make decisions that you want on your behalf.
This leaflet will provide you with more information about advance care planning:
- About the Team
Dr Anthony Thompson - Consultant in Palliative Medicine, Clinical Lead
Ian Young - Directorate Manager, Medical Care Group
Deborah Beck - SPCT Team Leader/Clinical Manager, Palliative Care
Alice Edge - Macmillan Clinical Nurse Specialist, Palliative Care
Beverley Fairclough - Macmillan Clinical Nurse Specialist, Palliative Care
Helen Boyle - Macmillan Clinical Nurse Specialist, Palliative Care
Julie Doran - Macmillan Clinical Nurse Specialist, Palliative Care
Maureen Donnahey - Macmillan Clinical Nurse Specialist, Palliative Care
Rachel O’Neill - Macmillan Clinical Nurse Specialist, Palliative Care
Rebecca Telfer - Macmillan Clinical Nurse Specialist, Palliative Care
Rhianne Passam - Macmillan Clinical Nurse Specialist, Palliative Care
Ryan Clews - Macmillan Clinical Nurse Specialist, Palliative Care
Zoe – Atkinson - Macmillan Clinical Nurse Specialist, Palliative Care
Bernie Thomas - Macmillan End of Life Care Facilitator, Palliative Care
Lynda Clark - Bereavement Co-ordinator
Amy Atherton - End of Life Care Support Worker, Palliative Care
Anna Jarosz - Medical Secretary, Palliative Care
Laura Borden - Administration Clerk, Palliative Care
- Location
The Hospital Specialist Palliative Care and End of Life Care Service is based at Whiston Hospital in the Medical Directorate on Green Zone (3rd floor).
- Contact Details
You can contact us on 0151 290 4266.
- Relevant Leaflets/Documents/Links
Clinical Standards and Guidelines
Willowbrook Hospice: www.willowbrook.org.uk/
Macmillan Cancer support: www.macmillan.org.uk
Dying Matters: www.dyingmatters.org
Page last updated on 02nd May 2024
