Palliative care

Palliative care is an approach which improves the quality of life of patients and their families facing life-threatening illness, through the prevention, assessment and treatment of pain and other physical, psychosocial and spiritual problems.

Our philosophy is:

We recognise that patients with advanced disease have physical, emotional, spiritual and social needs.
We recognise the need for dignity and respect of all individuals, irrespective of race, gender, spiritual beliefs, age, sexual orientation, etc.
We respect patients and relatives’ right to confidentiality.
We recognise that communication and liaison are essential.
We aim to collaborate fully with all professional colleagues.
We provide formal and informal education for all members of staff and other groups.
We recognise the need to support staff to develop confidence and promote effective coping.
Practice is based on a combination of current research, evaluation and audit.
We act as the patient’s advocate to promote patient autonomy.

A significant number of people with advanced cancer and end stage disease suffer from a range of complex problems – physical, psychological, social and spiritual – which cannot always be dealt with by generalist services. Equally, their families, partner and carers may also need expert support during their lives and also in bereavement. Specialist palliative care at Barts Cancer Centre provided by the Macmillan palliative care team is required to meet these needs.

Our team includes senior clinical nurse specialists, doctors who are trained in palliative medicine and junior doctors in training. We have further support from a consultant clinical psychologist, social workers and our chaplaincy. We also have access to the full range of multi-disciplinary services including occupational therapy, physiotherapy, dietetics and further oncological advice.

We are committed to appropriate end of life care following the Liverpool Care Pathway, and we work closely with all our community teams, referring hospitals and primary care teams.

Consultants

Dr David Feuer, Associate Clinical Director for Palliative Care, E mail david.feuer@bartsandthelondon.nhs.uk
Dr Clare Phillips, Macmillan Consultant in Palliative Medicine
Dr Teresa Tate, Honorary Consultant in Palliative Medicine

Clinical Psychologists

Dr Mark Barrington, Consultant Clinical Psychologist
Dr Caroline Dancyger , Clinical Psychologist

Nursing team

Macmillan Lead Nurse, Specialist Palliative Care, Diane Haywood. Email: diane.haywood@bartsandthelondon.nhs.uk
Macmillan Clinical Nurse Specialists; Adrienne Mabbott, Pat Langstone, Teresa Coyne, Colin Murden and Kirsty Macpherson

Social workers

Affiliated Social Worker (for St. Bartholomew’s Hospital only), Peter Southern.
Macmillan Social Worker (for Royal London Hospital only), Bernice François.

Contact

Tel: 020 346 55600
Fax: 020 346 55389