What is palliative care?

Palliative care is an approach that improves the quality of life of patients and their families facing the problems associated with life-threatening illness.

Through the prevention and relief of suffering by means of early identification, assessment and treatment of pain and other problems, physical, psychosocial and spiritual. 

Palliative care:

• provides relief from pain and other distressing symptoms;
• affirms life and regards dying as a normal process;
• intends neither to hasten or postpone death;
• integrates the psychological and spiritual aspects of patient care;
• offers a support system to help patients live as actively as possible until death;
• offers a support system to help the family cope during the patient’s illness and in their own bereavement;
• uses a team approach to address the needs of patients and their families,
• will enhance quality of life, and may also positively influence the course of illness;
• is applicable early in the course of illness, in conjunction with other therapies that are intended to prolong life, such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy, and includes those investigations needed to better understand and manage distressing clinical complications.

If we think palliative care will help you, you will be referred to our hospital palliative care team at any stage during your illness, if appropriate. It is particularly important if your treatment is no longer working, or not working so well, because good symptom management can help you to live longer and to live comfortably, even if we cannot cure your illness.

Our team includes consultants, trainee doctors, clinical nurse specialists, pharmacist, occupational therapists and pastoral care team.

We work in all areas of the hospital, including emergency department, intensive care, and in all wards. You can be referred to us for palliative care by the team looking after you in the hospital, or you could ask for a referral yourself.
The hospital palliative care team support you and your family while you are in hospital and once you go home, if this is required, we will refer to our colleagues in local community palliative care teams.

We offer lots of different support including:
• supporting you, your family and carers to help you manage your illness
• helping you to manage your symptoms, such as pain, sickness and breathlessness
• explaining the treatment options you may be offered
• offering information on social, practical and financial issues
• providing specialist advice to those involved in planning your discharge from hospital including hospice admissions
• offering bereavement support through memorial services for those who lost their loved ones in our hospitals

The Time Garden at Frimley Park Hospital

The garden is available from 8am to 8pm, seven days a week. The garden has been provided for use of patients who are at a palliative stage in their illness or approaching the end of their life. The garden provides a secluded space for quiet contemplation, spiritual reflection and privacy for both patients and their family and friends.

Pet visits

We allow animals to visit critically unwell patients and those who are receiving palliative care within our Trust, and also visit external gardens and courtyards where there are hospital areas with restricted access due to infection control.