Community Specialist Palliative Care Team

Our community team of Clinical Nurse Specialists (Macmillan), nurses, doctors, social workers and allied health professionals work together to support patients in their own homes. The team works closely with GP's, District Nurses, and others in the community setting by offering specialist palliative care advice and support. We always work in partnership and close links are always maintained with the patients own GP, District Nurses and other professionals.

We work within a designated area of Norfolk and are based at the Priscilla Bacon Centre in Norwich.

Following a referral to our community team, we offer patients an introductory visit, usually in their own home; to discuss and assess what help is required. There may be times when a single assessment visit is all that is needed. For those with more complex needs, the team will offer on-going assessment, support and monitoring. We may discharge patients who no longer have specialist palliative care needs.

We can provide the following:

• Advice in managing pain and other symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and breathlessness
• Emotional support
• The chance for patients to ask questions and talk about any concerns they may have about their illness or treatment
• Time to talk about the effect their illness is having on those close to them
• Signposting to other help that is available

In addition, the Community Specialist Palliative Care Teams are involved with:

• Education - Helping other professionals to develop their experience by teaching skills in palliative care
• Management - Influencing the development of palliative care services throughout the cancer network
• Audit and research

The Community Team are available and work 9am - 5pm, Monday to Friday and on Bank Holidays. An on-call service is available via the inpatient unit during evenings and weekends. GP's and district nurses, who need urgent advice during normal working hours can access this service via our 'Rapid Response Bleep' system'.