Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Alert Coronavirus / COVID-19

If you have a new continuous cough, a high temperature, or a loss or change to your sense of taste or smell, do not come to our hospitals. Follow the national advice on coronavirus (COVID-19).

Please find information on our services and visiting restrictions in our COVID-19 section.

Patients and visitors must wear a face covering in our hospitals.

This site is best viewed with a modern browser. You appear to be using an old version of Internet Explorer.

Palliative Care referrals

Palliative care is provided at the John Radcliffe Hospital and Sir Michael Sobell House, Churchill Hospital, Oxford or Horton General Hospital, Banbury and Katharine House, Adderbury.

Specialist palliative care is for patients and families coping with cancer or other end-of-life diseases. It is a resource for GPs and the Primary Care Team (PCT) offering support in continuing to care for patients at home. Early referral is encouraged. We are able to advise and support patients who are still receiving palliative anti-cancer treatment, e.g. radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Patient leaflets are available.

Referrals

Referrals are made direct by letter, telephone or email to:

or

Referral may be to the Consultants or Hospital CNS:

  • Dr Mary Miller
  • Dr Timothy Harrison
  • Dr Bee L Wee
  • Dr Charlie Bond
  • Dr Beth MacGregor

Outpatient appointments can be arranged at Sobell House or in the patients' homes.

Suggested referral criteria

  • Difficult symptoms (current or anticipated).
  • Persisting anxiety, depression, psychological problems in patient or partner.
  • Additional support for home care, e.g. Day Hospice.
  • Where inpatient terminal care is anticipated and no local facility exists.
  • When patient and/or family are anticipated to have difficulties managing alone, e.g:
    • young families
    • other illness in family
    • recent bereavement
    • unemployment
    • alcohol or drug abuse.
  • Particular cancers including intracerebral tumours; head and neck cancer.
  • Long natural history of advanced disease, e.g.
    • Metastatic bone disease in breast/prostate cancer
    • Recurrent pelvic tumours
    • Cancer related lymphoedema.

The service is multi-professional, aiming to meet the many physical, psychological and social problems of patients.

The team includes the following.

  • Four consultants in palliative medicine (Oxford), one in Banbury, and junior staff
  • Head Nurse, Ward Manager and inpatient nursing teams
  • Hospital Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNS)
  • Lymphoedema Nurse Specialists (Sobell and Katharine House)
  • Physiotherapist
  • Occupational Therapists
  • Social Workers
  • Bereavement Service
  • Chaplain
  • Psycho-oncology CNS (Churchill Hospital only)
  • Voluntary Service Co-ordinator
  • Inpatient and Day Hospice Volunteers

Services available

  • Advice on symptom control
    This can be a one-hour outpatient consultation (transport may be arranged) or a domiciliary visit which can usually be arranged within a few days. Telephone advice is always available.
  • Inpatients
    Admission can usually be arranged within 1-5 days for symptom control, rehabilitation, respite or terminal care. The average stay is 12 days, with 50 percent of patients being discharged home.
  • Continuing Care
    Community Clinical Nurse Specialists (Macmillan Nurses) are available to provide advice and support to patients, carers and Primary Care Teams (seven day service).
  • Day Hospice
    Day care is offered five days a week at Sobell House, Oxford, and Katharine House, Adderbury, Banbury, and Witney Day Hospice (Tuesdays only) in Witney Community Hospital. Both centres offer support, rehabilitation, massage, relaxation, music and art therapy. Volunteer transport can be arranged for both centres.
  • Psychological help
    The consultant post in psychological medicine is currently frozen, and there is a Clinical Nurse Specialist only one day/week. Our service would try to help with most routine issues and advice about further specialist help.
  • Bereavement support
    This is available for advice to professionals, families and carers. Trained volunteer support workers assist at-risk bereaved carers of our patients.
  • Lymphoedema
    Please refer directly to lymphoedema clinics: Sobell House (cancer and non-malignant patients), or Katharine House (cancer patients only).

Useful contact numbers

  • Reception or ward: 01865 225860 / 225899
  • Day Hospice: 01865 225875
  • Referrals (day): 01865 225876 / 225883
  • Referrals (evenings / weekends): 01865 225860
  • Sobell Specialist Palliative Care Community Nurses: 01865 857036
  • Bereavement support: 01865 225884 / 225878
  • Psycho-oncology advice: 01865 225862
  • Brodey Cancer Centre, Horton General Hospital, Banbury: 01295 224195
  • Katharine House: 01295 811866

John Radcliffe Hospital, Churchill Hospital and NOC Palliative Care contact details

Monday to Friday 9.00am - 3.30pm: messages checked throughout the day

Contacts for John Radcliffe Hospital

Tel: 01865 221741

Contacts for Churchill Hospital

Tel: 01865 223585

Weekends and bank holidays 9.00am - 4.00pm

Tel: 01865 857036 (all sites)

Out of hours via Sobell House

Tel: 01865 225873 (all sites)

Support groups