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Palliative Care
The palliative medicine and symptom management team at St. Vincent’s Private Hospital support patients and their families who have long-term chronic conditions, a life-limiting illness, or, in some instances, advise on symptom management with an illness that is likely to be cured.
Treatment is aimed at relieving or easing the symptoms of a disease or disorder. The service can be provided at any stage of an illness.
The overall goal of palliative medicine and symptom management is to improve quality of life during an illness. Physical symptoms such as pain, bowel problems, nausea, fatigue, loss of appetite and shortness of breath can be addressed together with other areas of a patient’s life which are affected by the illness or treatment.
Patients can be referred to the service by their GP or primary consultant within the hospital. Patients and/or carers can be seen as inpatients, as an outpatient, if required, or supported by telephone. After discharge, if further support is needed at home, the team can coordinate services with the patient’s GP and, if appropriate, local community-based palliative care services.
The Department of Palliative Medicine and Symptom Management at St. Vincent’s Private Hospital offers unique access to direct referral of patients who require acute symptom assessment and management in an acute hospital environment.
Appropriate patients are those with uncontrolled symptoms who require comprehensive specialist assessment by a consultant in palliative medicine, supported by the investigative (e.g. laboratory and radiological) and therapeutic (e.g. specialist pain management, including interventions, interventional radiology, radiotherapy) facilities only available in an acute hospital setting, in order to optimise outcomes.
Appointment and Referral information
Contact Details:
Clinical Nurse Specialists:
- Kim Hayden (087) 397 7164
- Dorothy Foy (087) 103 9094
- Laura Greaves/Gwen Sinnott (087) 338 7620
Dr Brendan Corkery (Palliative registrar) 087 355 0811
Team Secretary (Michelle) can be contacted on (01) 263 8768 / Fax: (01) 263 8169
Hours of contact: Mon to Fri: 08.00-17.00.
For GP Referrals:
Consultant in Palliative Medicine: Dr Sarah Mc Lean
Email: s.mclean@svph.ie
