The main aim of the team is to bring about the highest standard of care to the patient or carer by offering psychological support and expert advice on treatment options or symptom control, or by indirectly acting as a resource to other professionals.
We work to four levels of intervention, which are:
- Providing advice, information and support to professionals without direct contact with the patient.
- This typically involves a single consultative visit, which maybe be a joint visit with the referrer, or an outpatient consultation. Our focus is providing advice so the main carer can manage the patients’ problems effectively.
- Short-term interventions by the team relating to specific unresolved problems. Our intention is to discharge the patient from the service back to the referrer when the patient’s needs (in the relation to their problems) have been resolved.
- For patients who will remain under our care for a longer period or throughout the disease process. Typically, patients needing this level of intervention have multiple conditions that need specialist input, or will have been referred at a late stage of their disease.
The team will also help the primary carer in assessing and managing the needs of the patients and carers. They will not take over care but will act as a specialist resource.
Who do we work with?
We work with:
- Patients and carers
- GPs
- Community matrons
- Case managers
- Community hospital nurses
- Allied health professionals such as dietitians, physiotherapists and occupational therapists
- Fast response team
- Out-of-hours palliative nursing service
- Herriot Hospice homecare
- Marie Curie nursing service
- Macmillan information centre
- Nursing and residential homes
- Extra care housing
- Care agencies
- Specialist palliative care at The James Cook University Hospital, Teesside Hospice and St Teresa’s Hospice
- Other specialist nurses
- Social services
- Learning disability services
- Mental health services
- Medical staff
- Specialist palliative care team partnership group
The team
We are a team of health professionals consisting of:
- Clinical nurse specialists in palliative care
- Occupational therapist
- Dietitian
- Specialist therapy technician
- Speciality doctor in palliative medicine
- Benefits advisor (in conjunction with Citizens Advice Bureau)
- Administrator
Contact details
Specialist palliative care team
First Floor
Friarage Hospital
Northallerton
DL6 1JG
Telephone – 01609 764443
Our nursing service is available seven days a week from 8.30am to 4.30pm.
Outside these hours, please contact your GP or community nurse.
How to refer?
Referrals should only be made for those patients:
- Who consent to be referred to the specialist palliative care team.
- Who are aware of their diagnosis.
- With a diagnosis of cancer or life-limiting illness who have problematic pain or uncontrolled symptoms which their usual professional carer is unable to manage.
- Who require or whose carers require informed support at the time of their diagnosis/recurrence over and above those the key worker can provide.
- With complex social, psychological or spiritual needs over and above those that the key worker can provide.
- Requiring specialist rehabilitation to help them adapt to the limitations of their condition and maximise the quality of their life.