Services

Referrals

The catchments area for referrals is residents living within the London Boroughs of Greenwich and Bexley.

Patients with active, progressive and advanced disease are eligible for hospice services. This includes patients with both malignant disease and non-malignant diseases for example, cancer, heart disease, lung disease and neurological diseases. Hospice services include day hospice, out-patient, community and in-patient care.

Referrals to all services must be made on a Specialist Palliative Care Referral Form. Click here to download a copy.  Telephone referrals are not accepted although discussion about how to make a referral or whether a referral is likely to be accepted is welcome. General Practitioners (GP's), Consultants in hospitals, District Nurses, Social Workers and Specialist Nurses may make referrals.  

The referral process for patients in hospital is initially via the ward staff. They will arrange an assessment by their Specialist Palliative Care Team who will forward this to us. The team comprises Consultants, Specialist Registrars and Specialist Nurses who work regularly with patients who may need hospice care.

For patients at home, referral is accessed via the GP who will request an assessment by the hospice Community Palliative Care Team. These experienced nurses are based in the hospice. They will visit you in your own home following prior agreement with you to assess your needs with you and your family.

Referrals are considered at a multi-disciplinary team meeting held each weekday morning by a combination of Doctors, Community Nurses and In-patient Staff. Urgent referrals (i.e. requests for admission that day) for patients in their own homes are considered on an individual basis based on a variety of factors including patient needs and availability of beds. GP's should initially contact the Nurse in Charge.  

It is possible for potential patients/carers to request to visit the hospice. It would probably be most beneficial for you to visit once you have discussed your needs with a member of the hospital or community palliative care team. To arrange a visit please make an appointment with the nurse in charge to ensure we have enough time to spend with you.