Palliative care

Who we are:

• The hospital palliative care team is a specialist, multi-professional service—made up of doctors, nurses, therapists, and support staff—working across our four acute hospital sites. 

• We provide a liaison service to support ward teams in meeting the holistic needs of patients with life-limiting, progressive illnesses

What we do:

• Support ward teams in managing pain and other distressing symptoms for adults with life-limiting, progressive illnesses. 

• Promote compassionate palliative care at all stages, including the final hours and days of life. 

• Support the physical, psychological, social, and spiritual needs of patients, and provide emotional support to families and carers, including facilitating conversations about future care planning. 

• Work with patients and those important to them to develop personalised care plans that prioritise comfort, dignity, and, where possible, respects their end-of-life preferences, including the option of discharge home for end-of-life care. 

• Support ward teams to deliver compassionate, individualised end-of-life care using our Comfort Care measures. 

• Review patients who may need consideration of transfer to a specialist hospice bed. 

• Provide education and training to staff to support high-quality palliative and end-of-life care. 

• Represent our Trust externally to guide and enhance palliative and end-of-life care across our communities. 

End of life care

When a patient is recognised to be in the last days of life, and further treatment will not change the outcome or is not in line with their wishes, our ward teams provide personalised end-of-life care using our Comfort Care measures.  

How we work:

• We offer a Clinical Nurse Specialist service for patients in hospital, available 7 days a week from 9am to 5pm and supported by 24-hour medical advice from palliative medicine consultants. 

• Any hospital patient with unmet palliative or end-of-life care needs can be referred by their medical or nursing team. Occasionally, patients or carers may refer directly, and we then coordinate with the relevant ward. 

• We collaborate closely with hospital teams and community services—including local hospices and community nursing teams— supporting with referrals and sharing clinical information where appropriate. 

‘A Friend in Need’ volunteer programme

University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust are proud to be working in partnership with the Anne Robson Trust charity and funded by Friends of Brighton & Hove Hospitals to create a volunteer service focused on supporting people nearing the end of their life.

A Friend in Need’ is volunteer-based programme aimed at providing compassionate companionship and support to patients approaching the end of their life. It is currently only available at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton, but we hope to extend this across all our sites in the near future.  

Trained volunteers offer: 

• Companionship: Spending time with patients, offering a listening ear, and providing a friendly presence. 

• Respite for visitors: Offering breaks to visitors and loved ones by sitting with patients, allowing them time for rest or personal needs. 

• Emotional support: Providing a comforting presence and offering a listening ear to both patients and their visitors. 

• Practical support: Assisting with minor tasks as requested, such as fetching drinks or reading to patients. 

To learn more about the service and to make a referral, contact Lou Ikiua, ‘A Friend in Need’ – End of Life Care Volunteer Coordinator at: [email protected] , ‘A Friend in Need’ – End of Life Care Volunteer Coordinator at: [email protected]

Charity Registration details: The Anne Robson Trust Reg Charity No: 1178352

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