Palliative and end of life care

The Trust’s specialist palliative care team work solely with patients who have life limiting illnesses, offering:

• Advice on symptom management
• Advice on living with life limiting illness
• Holistic assessment and advance care planning
• Information and signposting for patients and families, including financial matters
• Emotional and psychological support for patients and families
• Referrals to community services – for example district nurses, community palliative care specialists/hospice services
• Support for patients and families in the last days of life
• Bereavement support

The palliative care team works closely with other professionals and services to ensure that your care is as seamless as possible.

Lister service

The service at the Lister runs 8.30am to 4.30pm, seven days a week (including public holidays).  The team consists of:

• Clinical nurse specialists (CNS)
• Consultant in palliative medicine
• End-of-life care lecturer practitioner
• Clinical practice educator
• Multi-disciplinary team (MDT) co-ordinator
• Administration support

Contacting the team:

• Direct line – 01438 284035
• Duty CNS can also be bleeped (quote bleep 4035) via the Trust’s switchboard (01438 314333).

Out-of-hours specialist telephone advice line is available:

• North Hertfordshire – 01462 679540 (Garden House Hospice Care)
• East Hertfordshire – 01707 382575 (Isabel Hospice)
• West Hertfordshire – 0203 826 2377 (Michael Sobell Hospice)

Mount Vernon Cancer Centre service

The palliative care service at the Mount Vernon Cancer Centre is available Monday to Friday, 9.00am to 5.00pm.  The team comprises:

• Clinical nurse specialists
• Consultant in palliative medicine
• Administration support