How do I make a referral for treatment and support at St Joseph’s Hospice?
Referrals can be made by any professional who knows the patient. It is also possible for a patient or family member to refer. To discuss eligibility criteria and whether an individual or their family is likely to benefit from hospice support, referrers are invited to speak to the St Joseph’s First Contact Team by phoning the hospice on 0300 303 0400: and a member of the team will assist you with your enquiry. Out of hours, between 6pm and 8am please call 020 8525 6000. Please note that calls may be recorded for training and monitoring purposes.
The patient should be aware of, and agree with the referral.
To enable us to best assess the referral and provide the most appropriate care it is helpful if the referral includes full and relevant medical and treatment information. This might include a medical summary, information regarding investigations confirming diagnosis and prognosis (where estimated) and medication on referral.
The St Joseph’s First Contact Team works Monday – Friday from 8am to 6pm. Referrals are particularly welcome during these hours. If you are looking to refer a Tower Hamlets resident we ask that you do so via Tower Hamlets palliative care centre – T: 020 8121 4387 F: 020 8121 4389 E: thpcc@thpct.nhs.uk
What are your referral criteria?
We provide community services, day care, in-patient and outpatient care to adults (18 years or over) resident in the boroughs of City and Hackney Tower Hamlets and Newham and in-patient services to patients living in Waltham Forest, Redbridge, Haringey, Enfield and Camden and Islington who are suffering from a life-limiting illness. We also offer support to the families and carers of our patients. We provide support to patients based on need rather than diagnosis, so support patients with a wide range of conditions. These include cancer, heart failure, respiratory failure and progressive neurological conditions
For full details please read our St Joseph’s referral criteria
What does St Joseph's aim to do for patients?
St Joseph’s aims to provide holistic care to patients with life limiting disease, addressing physical, psycho-social and spiritual needs to enable them to live as fully as possible for as long as possible. We recognise that serious illness also affects all those connected to the patient, so we are here to help and support families and friends too.
What services are available?
Admissions are usually for approximately two weeks but people can stay longer should they have ongoing care needs that require specialist palliative care. Care needs are reviewed regularly. Sometimes patients still need nursing care but not the high level of specialist care that the hospice provides. If patients’ nursing care needs do not require specialist palliative care then we will discuss with the patient and their carers whether it is possible to return home with appropriate support or whether transfer to a Nursing Home is needed.
Community support is usually delivered by clinical nurse specialists supported by the wider multi-disciplinary team..Patients can be referred for symptom control, psychosocial and spiritual support and for support with terminal care in the home. We aim to tailor treatment to the preferences of the patient and family and where appropriate offer advance care planning. We provide support when appropriate at any time during someone's illness, working with other professionals such as their General Practitioner and District Nurse. We provide community support for 3 boroughs; Tower Hamlets (Dr Jon Martin –consultant lead), City and Hackney (Dr Abigail Wright- consultant lead) and Newham (Dr Anjali Mullick - consultant leads). A number of the allied health professionals provide a domiciliary service
Are there facilities for advanced life support at the hospice?
We do not have the facilities to perform advanced life support on the inpatient unit. If clinically indicated, and if in line with a patient’s wishes, basic life support will be instigated. A 999 call will be made to take the patient to the Homerton Hospital. For patients whose wishes are unknown, basic life support will be instigated if clinically indicated.
What treatments are available?
The following therapeutic interventions are available depending on a patients needs and the potential benefit; blood transfusions, bisphosphonate infusions, paracentesis and IV antibiotics.
Read more »Who provides the care?
Care, both in the ward and in the community, is delivered by a multidisciplinary team comprised of; doctors, nurses, healthcare assistants, physios, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, dieticians, complementary therapists, social workers, counselors, spiritual care representatives, and volunteers.
Read more »
