The Palliative Care Team is a multi-professional team working in an advisory capacity across King’s to provide evidence-based, individualised, symptom control, complex psychosocial care, liaison with other specialist palliative care services (hospital and community) and terminal care for all patients with advanced disease. The team is committed to audit, research, education and providing a service that improves quality of life, facilitates patient choice and treats patients and carers with respect and dignity at all times
In the 2005 Cancer Peer Review process, the team met over 90% of 1* measures and received very positive feedback, with several areas identified as being markers of good practice.
What we do
Palliative care aims to improve the quality of life of patients and families who face life-threatening illness, by providing pain and symptom relief, spiritual and psychosocial support from diagnosis to the end of life and into bereavement (WHO 2002).
The Palliative Care Team at King’s is a multi-professional team of doctors, specialist nurses, a psychosocial worker and an administrator. Patients are seen on hospital wards or in the outpatient clinics at King’s. Although we do not see patients at home, we maintain close links with community palliative care teams.
What is available?
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Advice on the management of physical symptoms, such as sickness, breathlessness, pain and loss of appetite.
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Support to patients and their families. Coping with an illness that is life threatening can be distressing. It is sometimes helpful to talk about this, and there may be questions we can help you with.
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Time for patients and their family members to understand their feelings.
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Specialist discharge planning, for example if you are unwell but wish to be at home or elsewhere.
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We are a resource (information and advice) for hospital staff on all aspects of cancer, other serious illnesses and palliative care.
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The team can assess patients for eligibility for financial assistance.
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We can liase with other healthcare professionals and services, which may be helpful.
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Bereavement follow-up.
Location
Portacabin C (upstairs)
Outside of door D at end of Cheyne Wing, by Renal Outpatients
Contact details
Helen Mills
Administrator
Telephone: 020 3299 4060
Email: palliativecareteam@kch.nhs.uk
Key medical staff
Doctors
Dr Rachel Burman (consultant)
Specialist registrars – 2 doctors on rotation
Clinical Nurse Specialists
Ian Rudrum
Claire Chapman
Social Worker
Emily Madsen
