Palliative care

Overview

Palliative care is an approach that aims to improve the quality of life of patients experiencing a life limiting illness (this includes both cancer and non-cancer diagnoses) and offer support to families and carers.

In the early stages of illness, palliative care will be provided alongside medical and supportive care to improve quality of life. For patients nearing the end of their life, our aim is to enable them to die in comfort, with dignity and where possible, in the surroundings of their choice.

The palliative care team is a multidisciplinary service that works across Barnet Hospital, Chase Farm Hospital, the Royal Free Hospital and the north Camden community.

Our team consists of palliative care consultants, nurse consultant and clinical nurse specialists that work closely with the wider multidisciplinary teams in both our hospitals and the community to provide the following support:

  • advice and support on symptom control related to pain, nausea and vomiting, breathlessness, fatigue
  • psychological support 
  • social and financial issues
  • future management related to advance care planning
  • discharge planning
  • end of life care
  • bereavement support

The palliative care team is available Monday to Sunday 9am - 5pm.

Contact

Do you have an appointment?

Find your ward

  • Barnet Hospital

    Wellhouse Lane
    Barnet
    EN5 3DJ        

    Monday to Friday 8am-4pm

    Direct dial: 020 8216 4446

    Weekends and bank holidays 9am-5pm

    Please contact the main switchboard on 020 8216 6400 and ask for bleep 2127

  • Chase Farm Hospital

    The Ridgeway
    Enfield
    Middlesex
    EN2 8JL 

    Monday to Friday 8am-4pm

    Direct dial: 020 8216 4446

  • Royal Free Hospital

    Pond Street
    London
    NW3 2QG

    Monday to Friday 9am-5pm

    020 794 0500 extension 23304

    Direct dial: 020 7830 2905

    Weekends and bank holidays 9am-5pm

    Please contact the main switchboard on 020 7794 0500 and ask to aircall the palliative care team

Referrals

Referral details

Referrals to the north Camden community palliative care team can be made by any healthcare professional with the agreement of the GP responsible for the patient’s care and with the patient’s consent. 

These referrals can be done using an electronic form which can be found on the Camden GP website here.

Referrals from other community palliative care teams to hospital palliative care team can be sent via our generic email address.

Royal Free Hospital: rf.palliativecare@nhs.net.

Barnet Hospital: rf-tr.palliativecare-barnet@nhs.net

Patient leaflets

Read our patient leaflets and publications

View all patient resources