Ealing and Hounslow Specialist Palliative Care Service normally operates from 9am to 5pm on each weekday. Main reception at the hospice is open from 8.30am to 4.30pm. Call 020 8967 5179 during these hours.
At all other times, there is out of hours support which varies slightly depending on the day, and the time (see below).
For specialist advice, we accept calls from:
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patients
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community healthcare professionals
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staff at Ealing Hospital, West Middlesex University Hospital and Northwick Park Hospital
Out of hours calls are directed through to the inpatient hospice ward on 020 8967 5597.
Trained staff on the ward can often give straightforward initial advice. If ward staff are unable to help, or the issues are more complex, there is a consultant on call 24 hours a day. Ward staff will take the caller's number, alert the on call consultant and he or she will contact the caller.
Weekends and bank holidays for community patients
For community patients, there is an out of hours service at weekends and on Bank Holidays. Call us on 020 8242 5817.
This operates from 9am to 5pm. There is a Clinical Nurse Specialist on-call across both boroughs. The on-call Clinical Nurse Specialist and an on-call consultant work closely together in order to manage situations which are more complex or where the consultant needs to visit the patient at home.
Marie Curie Rapid Response Service
6pm to 7am Monday to Sunday
The Marie Curie Rapid Response Service is a local visiting service which operates between 6pm and 7am, 7 days a week. This service is based at Meadow House Hospice.
There are 2 trained general (not specialist) nurses on call each night. They are able to give telephone advice, and can also go out to visit patients who are in need of urgent attention overnight. This might be to assess new symptoms, administer injectable drugs or to support patients and families during times of rapidly changing clinical conditions. This service operates over the whole of Ealing and Hounslow Boroughs.
Patients can be referred by the Specialist Palliative Care Service, GPs, District Nurses or any other healthcare professional.
Call the Marie Curie Rapid Response Service on 0208 967 5126.
