Palliative Care
Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust is committed to maintaining the best quality of life for its patients who are experiencing life-limiting conditions.
Our specialist teams offer expert assessment, advice, treatment and support on a range of symptoms and conditions, often working collaboratively with other agencies to ensure information is current and up to date.
The service accepts referrals for patients who have moderate to complex needs. Contact with the service may vary from a single visit to a period of ongoing support, whilst patients are in hospital or at home.
The service is made up of an integrated team of hospital and community-based specialists who cover all wards and departments within the hospital and patients in their own homes throughout the Walsall Metropolitan area. All are registered professionals with additional training in this specialist field. Typical specialisms include:
- palliative care clinical nurse specialist
- specialist occupational therapists
- specialist palliative care consultants
- hospital consultants
- ward nurses
- GP’s
- ward occupational therapists and physiotherapists
- Social Services
- Integrated Discharge Team
- Community nurses
- Community Specialist Therapy Team
What support is available in Walsall?
Community
Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust has a team of Community Palliative Care Palliative Care Clinical Nurse Specialists who are based at the Palliative Care Centre and work throughout Walsall Metropolitan Borough visiting patients in their own homes. They work closely with GPs, community nurses and other nurse specialists.
Hospital
Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust has a team of hospital-based Palliative Care Clinical Nurse Specialists and a Palliative Care Consultant who cover all wards and departments within the hospital. They work closely with hospital consultants, ward nurses, other specialist nurses, Allied Health Professionals, GPs and community nurses.
Both teams as an integrated service aim is to maintain the best possible quality of life for patients and their carers by offering advice on a number issues like symptom control, emotional and financial support, information and explanation.
The teams visit patients with life-limiting illnesses and referrals are accepted for patients with moderate to complex needs. Contact with the service may vary from a single assessment visit to a period of ongoing support whilst patients are in hospital.
Referrals to the teams can be completed by a healthcare professional involved directly in a patients care.
Walsall Palliative Care Centre
In 2011 a £5.5 million centre at Goscote opened its doors to Walsall residents and surrounding areas and is the first facility of its kind in Walsall. It delivers high quality medical and nursing and therapy care for local people living with cancer and other serious illnesses, as well as offering support for their families and carers.
Queries to the team will usually be answered Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm. During weekends or bank holidays an answer machine service is available.
Community
Walsall Palliative Care Centre
Goscote Lane
Walsall
WS3 1SJ
Telephone: 01922 602610
Email: Ciss.enquiries@nhs.net
Hospital
Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust
Moat Road
Walsall
West Midlands
WS2 9PS
Telephone: 01922 721172 ext. 7111/7324
Email: acute.palliativecareteam@nhs.net
There is an answer machine facility in operation for both teams if the office is unattended or messages may be taken by clerical support.
Referral to the palliative care team needs to be completed by a healthcare professional currently involved in your care.
The service often supports families in dealing with difficult situations, which can cause heightened emotions. Please remember to treat team members how you would wish to be treated yourself – with respect.