Palliative care aims to reduce and relieve the symptoms of an illness which is serious and progressing. This illness could be cancer, advanced neurological disease, or poor function of important organs, such as heart, lung or kidneys.
The goal of palliative care is to achieve the best possible quality of life for patients and to help with the concerns of patients, families and carers.
An individualised care planning approach is used at any stage of the illness and at the end of life.
All healthcare workers can provide palliative care where appropriate; however where symptoms and needs are complex a referral to the Palliative Care Service will be required for specialist support.
How do we work?
- We work in partnership with your GP, hospital consultant and their medical and nursing teams.
- Your GP or hospital consultant will remain responsible for your medical care.
- Your district nurse or the ward nursing team will continue to manage your regular nursing needs.
- Referrals are made by your GP, district nurse, hospital team, hospice team or other professionals involved in your care.
- We provide an advisory and supportive service to you, your family and friends.
- Our team includes nurse specialists (sometimes called Macmillan nurses) consultants in palliative medicine, clinical psychologists and support workers, all of whom are experienced and have specialist skills in palliative care.
What can we help with?
- We provide advice and support on physical symptoms (pain, nausea, breathlessness etc) that may be of concern to you.
- We provide advice and support on the emotional impact of your illness.
- We can offer advice and support for your family and / or carers.
- We can provide information about sources of other support you may require, e.g. financial, spiritual, social etc.
- We can liaise with your local hospice services for inpatient, outpatient, or day hospice care, as appropriate.
- We can give you the opportunity to explore your support and care at end of life.
This information leaflet has been produced to provide you with information about the role of the Palliative Care Service. Please contact if you have any questions.
How to contact us
The Palliative Care Service includes teams on four sites:
Royal Victoria Infirmary
Telephone: 0191 282 4019
Freeman Hospital
Telephone: 0191 213 7221
Northern Centre for Cancer Care (NCCC)
Telephone: 0191 213 8606
We are available Monday to Friday between 8:30am and 5:00pm.
If you telephone outside of these hours you will be able to leave a message on our answer machine.
Saturday and Sunday between 8:30am and 4:30pm, to be contacted via your ward team.
Newcastle Community
Telephone: 0191 282 3289
We are available Monday to Friday between 8:30am and 5:00pm.
If you telephone outside of these hours you will be able to leave a message on our answer machine.
Saturday and Sunday between 9:00am and 5:00pm, to be contacted via your district nurse.
If you are at home and need urgent advice, please contact your GP or District Nurse.
A Gift of Kindness
A Gift of Kindness is the Charitable Fund established to support palliative care at Newcastle Hospitals. The fund provides the little things that make a big difference to the patients within our service and to those important to them.
To find out more and how you can donate, go to our Just Giving page:
Gift of Kindness Just Giving page
