Our-of-hours services - Wigan & Leigh Hospice

Specialist
Palliative Care
Out of Hours Service

1
Wigan and Leigh Hospice
Specialist Palliative Care
Out of Hours Services
●
Telephone Advice Line
●
Community Palliative Care Nurse Specialist
Service
●
Admission to the In-patient Unit

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Dedicated Out of Hours Telephone
Advice Line
The Advice Line is available to patients, carers
and healthcare professionals who are
seeking advice about palliative care issues.
The service aims to provide advice about:
● Pain control
● Symptom control
● Hospice services and referral information
When is this service available?
The advice line operates outside of normal
Monday to Friday office hours and includes
weekends and all public holidays. Advice
can also be sought during normal office
hours but is accessed via the main hospice
switchboard.
How does the advice line work?
Your call will be taken by a professional
who will ask for information about diagnosis,
medication and current problems. Your
query may be answered immediately, or in
some instances additional information may
be required and under those circumstances
we would offer to call you back regarding
your problem.

3
Community Palliative Care
Nurse Specialist Service (PCNS)
The Community Palliative Care Nurse Specialists
operate a restricted service on Saturdays,
Sundays and Public Holidays.
The main aims of this service are:
●
●
●
To complement the Out of Hours
Telephone Advice Line
To provide specialist palliative care assessments
and reviews as required
over the weekend or during public
holidays for patient’s under the care of
the hospice who are either at home
or in a Care Home.
To support community teams who are
delivering out of hours palliative care.
When is this service available?
A PCNS will be available between the
hours of 09.00 and 17.00 Saturdays, Sundays
and on Public Holidays.
What if I require emergency assistance?
The Community Palliative Care Nurse Specialist
Service is not an emergency service.
If you require help urgently, you should call
the Out of Hours GP or District Nursing
Service.

4
Weekend Admissions to the Hospice
Admission to the Hospice at weekends can
be arranged in certain circumstances.
The decision will be based on an assessment
of the patients condition and will depend
on the availability of a bed.
The request for admission must come from
a Healthcare Professional and the patient
must be known to the Hospice.
Contact Telephone Numbers
Telephone Advice Line: 01942 524205
Wigan & Leigh Hospice: 01942 525566
Issue 01 September 2009

Kildare Street, Hindley, Wigan, WN2 3HZ
Telephone 01942 525566
Fax 01942 525577
Registered Charity Number 513400
Company Number 1677155 Limited by Guarantee
Registered Office as above