Community Palliative Care Team

Patients in the community can need the same type of specialist palliative care support as that provided by the hospice, but they may want to remain independently at home for as long as possible.

This is where the Community Specialist Palliative Care Team can help, by providing expertise on any issues that may arise from being unwell.

The team works together with the patient's own GP and Distric Nurse to achieve good symptom control.

Picture of Lauren Berry Community Team Leader with ethnic patient in home environment.

The Community Team providing specialist palliative care in Brent North consists of a Team Leader/Clinical Nurse Specialist, two additional clinical nurse specialists, a consultant, social worker and an administrator. They work directly with the Hospice's established services to provide specialist palliative care directly to the patient in their own home.

Albert and Primila's story

Albert Shaw was referred to the St Luke's Community Care team with a cancer diagnosis.

'When we heard about Albert's illness we were really scared, it was a terrible shock to us. We were first referred to the St Luke's Hospice Community Team by Northwick Park Hospital. The St Luke's community nurses immediately made us feel more relaxed: they were very reassuring. They listened to what we had to saty and didn't dismiss our concerns and fears, but just helped us know what to expect and what services were available to us.

They helped with practical things like sorting our wheelchairs and walking sticks and a blue badge for the car, and also adjusted my pain medication which made me much more comfortable. One of the most helpful things for us was simply being able to talk with someone who really cared on a one to one basis'

Community Palliative Care Team

Count Down to Midnight Walk