All referrals to St Nicholas Hospice Care services are processed by the Referrals Office (open 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday). Referrals are accepted from any healthcare professional and also from patients and families where appropriate.
A single referral form is available for all service areas.
Referrals can be made by completing the referral form (this can be completed electronically) and then
The Referrals Office can be contacted directly on 01284 715570.
Urgent referrals out of office hours can be made by calling 01284 766133 and asking to speak to the in-patient or community team.
Referrals are discussed every weekday morning at the St Nicholas Hospice Care multidisciplinary team meeting and contact will be made with the patient/client either within 24 hours if urgent, or as appropriate. Referrals are allocated to the most appropriate department for an efficient response.
Criteria for Referral
With the exception of the Time 4 You Day (for patients with curative illnesses) and Nicky's Way (for bereaved children and young people), the services at St Nicholas Hospice Care are available to adult patients (18 and over) with many life threatening illnesses, not just those with cancer.
This means patients who
- are 18 years and over and are registered with a GP within West Suffolk or Thetford; any exceptions to this will be discussed on a case by case basis
- agree to the referral
- have been diagnosed with a life limiting illness - of malignant or non-malignant disease
Also patients who have complex care needs that include any of the following:
- a rapidly progressing disease
- a disease that presents with, or is likely to present with, difficult to control or rapidly progressing symptoms
- complex rehabilitation needs
- experiencing psychosocial or spiritual distress
- young children under 18 years of age in the family
- being a single parent
- family members with additional needs
- being already known to another palliative care service
