Specialist Palliative and End of Life Care Services at DBTH comprises of a Specialist Palliative Care team, an End of Life Care team, Bereavement Care service, Chaplaincy and the Bassetlaw Bereavement Care team.
This multi-professional team aims to provide person-centred care and bridge the gap in integrated care, by offering a smooth transition of hospital care to hospice or community services.
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Specialist Palliative Care
Specialist Palliative Care have a team of Clinical Nurse Specialists and Consultants who are trained to treat patients with life-limiting conditions requiring complex symptom management, emotional and social support when they have been admitted to hospital.
Referrals
Specialist Palliative Care is an advisory service that usually receive a referral from the treating team in hospital with the aim of improving symptoms, alongside medical treatment so that they can be discharged and go on to live well with their condition for as long as possible. Referrals can also be received from community colleagues when a patient comes to hospital from home or a hospice, and collaborate with services when the patient goes home.
The team can support patients and their loved ones with conversations around future care planning and what is important to them, which can help ease the burden later.
Contact Specialist Palliative Care
The hours of service are Monday to Sunday, 9am – 5pm.
Please email the team on: specialistpalliativecare@nhs.net or call the service on:
- Doncaster Royal Infirmary and Montagu Hospital: 01302 644093 (Main Office)
- Bassetlaw Hospital: 01909 572981
- Specialist Palliative Care admin: 01302 644095
End of Life Care
End of Life Care at DBTH has a team of clinical nurse specialists who specialise in providing support and advice to staff, loved ones and patients who are thought to be in the last hours to days of life.
The team focus their care around the ‘five priorities,’ which are recognised nationally, and implemented to provide individualised holistic care involving the patient and those that are most important to them. These priorities include sensitive communication to achieve what is most important to the patient and may include their preferred place of care, overseeing and co-ordinating a safe discharge where appropriate by using efficient integrated working with community partners and local hospices. They also have the support from SPC and the consultant team when advice may be needed.
The team strive to provide the utmost compassionate care and to ensure patients and loved ones experience a ‘good death’ where possible. They can also assist families when appropriate with comfort care packs, legacy items and making memory boxes.
Contact End of Life Care
The hours of service are Monday to Sunday, 9am – 5pm.
Please email the team on: endofifecare@nhs.net or call the service on:
- Doncaster Royal Infirmary and Montagu Hospital: 01302 642182 (Main Office)
- Bassetlaw Hospital: 01909 572678
- End of Life Care admin team: 01302 642885
Compassionate Care Volunteers
This service is provided by trained volunteers, and has proven invaluable to some patients and ward areas when they have little or no family, or simply to give a family a break when facing a very difficult time in their lives.
The service runs across seven days, when the volunteers are available to offer their time.
The volunteers visit both palliative and end of life care patients when consent is obtained by the patient, or the family if the patient is unable to do so.
Some of the ‘little things’ go a long way – here are a few examples of what they can provide when they visit:
- Giving support and offering time to listen to the patient or a loved one
- Company and distraction
- Assisting them with any worries or concerns, and raising these to ward teams, Specialist Palliative Care or End of Life Care teams
- Offer relatives and loved ones a break, and give reassurance that someone will sit with a loved one when they cannot for other reasons
- Supporting mouth care
- Offering application of hand cream to aid relaxation
- Reading to patients, playing music, or simply just being there.
To find out more about the service, you can contact the End of Life Care admin team on: 01302 642885
Bereavement Care Services
The process following the death of a patient in hospital
- Bereavement Care Services ensure that all necessary paperwork is completed by liaising with the medical teams involved in the care of the patient whilst in hospital.
- A member of the Bereavement Care team will contact the bereaved relative or loved one on the following day to guide them through the next steps.
- Please note, the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death will not be available until you have been advised otherwise.
- After a bank holiday, or at other busy times, the phone lines may be exceptionally busy, however the team will endeavour to continue to make progress with completing the necessary paperwork. There is a voice mail answering service if you wish to leave a message and they will call back as soon as they are available.
- Once the cause of death has been suggested by the medical team, the relative or loved one will be called by a Medical Examiner Officer, who will independently review the care involved and explain what is written on the certificate, offering the next of kin time to ask any questions before sending it directly to the registrar.
- Please note it can take up to 72 hours for the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death to be completed and is required in order to register the death, however if the death has been referred to a Coroner, there may be a delay in the certificate being issued.
- If a cause of death cannot be established, then the coroner should be informed within 24 hours.
- After legislation was changed on 9 September 2024, deaths should be registered within five days of the registrar receiving the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death.
Contact Bereavement Care Services
At Doncaster Royal Infirmary, the hours of service are Monday to Friday, 8am – 5pm, Saturday to Sunday 8am – 4pm, including Bank Holidays except Christmas and the New Year.
Please email the team on: dbth.bereavementservicesteam@nhs.net or call the service on: 01302 642516
Any deaths which occur at Montagu Hospital will be processed by the DRI office, please call the team who will be able to advise you on: 01302 642516.
A bereavement booklet is available for families and loved ones who experience a bereavement at either Doncaster and Montagu. Access the Doncaster Royal Infirmary and Montagu Hospital Bereavement Booklet here.
At Bassetlaw Hospital, the hours of service are Monday to Friday, 9am – 4pm.
Please email the team on: dbth.bereavementservicesteam@nhs.net or call the service on: 01909 572567
A bereavement booklet is available for families and loved ones who experience a bereavement at Bassetlaw. Access the Bassetlaw Hospital Bereavement Booklet here.
Complex grief and support
Donny Dot
If someone is experiencing complex grief or would like further support, you can access support through Donny Dot Bereavement and Grief Support.
Bassetlaw Bereavement Counselling Service
Bassetlaw Bereavement Counselling (BBC) is a small department based at Bassetlaw Hospital.
Since 1996, BBC has provided bereavement counselling and support to residents of the Bassetlaw area and/or those registered with a Bassetlaw GP.
The service is funded by Bassetlaw Integrated Care System who have also set the criteria for the service users. Included in the team is a full-time Counsellor/Co-ordinator, a part-time administrative assistant and numerous Bereavement Support Volunteers.
Referral process
Referrals or bereavement counselling can be made by individuals, GPs or other agencies, with the permission of the person accessing the support.
Those using the service should either live within the Bassetlaw area or be registered with a Bassetlaw GP. Referrals can be made via telephone, email, or post.
Contact the Bassetlaw Bereavement Counselling Service
The hours of service are Monday to Friday, 9am – 1pm.
Please email the team on: dbth.bbc@nhs.net or call the service on: 01909 572 779 (24 hour answerphone service).
The Bassetlaw Bereavement Counselling service have also produced an informative leaflet for families and loved ones experiencing grief. Access the Bassetlaw Bereavement Counselling booklet here.
Chaplaincy
Chaplains are employed by the NHS and other healthcare organisations for their expertise in providing spiritual, pastoral and/or religious care. Chaplains come from many different backgrounds and beliefs, but are united by their compassion and concern to support those who are challenged by illness and injury.
At DBTH, we have a team of Chaplains who are employed by the Trust and can support patients in many ways when they are admitted to hospital or part way through their care. They also have a team of volunteers who support patients with visits to offer company or pastoral care.
Contact the Chaplains
The hours of service are Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm.
Please email the team on: dbth.chaplaincyteam@nhs.net or call the service. For Doncaster Royal Infirmary and Montagu Hospital, call: 01302 642237 For Bassetlaw Hospital, call: 01909 572846.
Palliative and End of Life Care in South Yorkshire
NHS South Yorkshire have comprehensive information about palliative and end of life care in South Yorkshire available on their website. This information was collated as a response to what members of the public and professionals said they needed.
The website offers information for residents across South Yorkshire, including Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield.
It offers support on:
- Planning ahead and information on ReSPECT
- Support available, including specialist services
- Details on where to seek support and advice
- Bereavement and grief information.
Access the Palliative and End of Life Care section on the NHS South Yorkshire here.
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