Specialist Palliative Care Team

What is Palliative Care?

Palliative care aims to achieve the best possible quality of life for patients who have been diagnosed with an illness that cannot be cured. It is also about ensuring comfort and dignity at the very end of life. It focuses on what matters most for the patient, their family, friends and carers.

What is Specialist Palliative Care?

Specialist palliative care is provided by a team of professionals who have extra training and experience in palliative care. Our specialist palliative care team includes doctors, nurses, physiotherapists as well as occupational therapists. We also work very closely with teams such as chaplaincy, psychology and local hospices.

We are able to offer additional support and advice when the needs of the person, family, friends or carers cannot be met by their usual care team (e.g. GP, District Nurse or ward based team).

It is important to know that we do not take over responsibility for a person’s care but work in partnership with other health and social care professionals and communicate closely with them.

How can we help, your family member, friend or carer?

We can provide:

• Expert advice on helping to control physical symptoms such as pain, breathlessness or sickness.

• Time to talk through thoughts, feelings or worries.

• Support and guidance about planning for the future.

• Support and guidance about staying as independent as possible and promoting quality of life.

• Information about other useful services (e.g. financial, spiritual, social).

Who can refer to us?

Any health or social care professional can make a referral to the specialist palliative care team. If you feel that our service may be helpful to you or your family member, friend or carer then please discuss this with a health or social care provider. 

We cannot accept self-referrals

All referrals are reviewed by a member of our team who may contact you or your care team for more information about your needs. This will help us to assess how these needs might best be met.

Urgent referrals will be prioritised

Some patients are discharged from our team if their situation is stable. However, a referral back to the team can always be made by a health or social care professional if the need comes up again in the future.

Where might I be seen?

Every person is an individual with different needs and wishes. We assess and manage care in many different ways and settings. This includes telephone calls or face to face visits. We see people in their own homes, hospitals, clinics or hospices.

Contact Details

To contact us please call:

North Tees & Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust Single Point of Access (SPA) on 01429 522 500 and ask for  ‘Specialist Palliative Care’.

Your message will be passed onto the team and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

Our service hours are:

Monday to Friday, 09:00 a.m. to 05:00 p.m. 

We also provide a limited service, out of normal working hours, (Saturday/Sunday and bank holiday 09:00 a.m. to 05:00 p.m.) for patients, families, friends and carers.

Telephone advice is available for health and social care professionals 24 hours/7 days per week.

We are based at:

The University Hospital of North Tees

Farndale House

Hardwick Road

Stockton-on-Tees

TS19 8PE

We also have an email address:

[email protected]   

Useful Contacts

1. Alice House Hospice

Wells Avenue, Hartlepool, TS249DA

Telephone: 01429 855555

Website: https://alicehousehospice.co.uk/  

2. Butterwick Hospice 

Middlefield Road, Stockton-On-Tees, TS19 8XN

Telephone: 01642 607742

Website: https://butterwick.org.uk/  

3. Deciding Right

Website: https://northerncanceralliance.nhs.uk/deciding-right/  

4. Macmillan Cancer Support

Website: https://www.macmillan.org.uk/  

5. North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust Specialist Palliative Care Charitable Fund

Website: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/carenth  

Comments, concerns, compliments or complaints

Patient Experience Team (PET)

We are continually trying to improve the services we provide. We want to know what we’re doing well or if there’s anything which we can improve, that’s why the Patient Experience Team (PET) is here to help. Our Team is here to try to resolve your concerns. The office is based at the University Hospital of North Tees if you wish to discuss concerns in person. Our contact details are:

Telephone: 01642 624719
Freephone: 0800 092 0084
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 9:30am to 4:00pm
Email: [email protected]

Out of hours

Out of hours if you wish to speak to a senior member of Trust staff, please contact the hospital switchboard who will bleep the appropriate person.
Telephone: 01642 617617

Patient, Public and People with Lived Experience

We are looking for patients to share their experiences of healthcare and to join our Involvement Bank. Working with the patients, carers, families and the general population we support in making decisions about their care can lead to better health outcomes, increased patient satisfaction and a better overall experience. We want to listen and work with you in shaping the future of your healthcare services. To find out more about the Involvement Bank go to our website or contact us at:

Website: www.nth.nhs.uk/about/community/people-with-lived-experience
Email: [email protected]

Data protection and use of patient information

The Trust has developed Data Protection policies in accordance with Data Protection Legislation (UK General Data Protection Regulations and Data Protection Act 2018) and the Freedom of Information Act 2000. All of our staff respect these policies and confidentiality is adhered to at all times. If you require further information on how we process your information please see our Privacy Notices.

Telephone: 01642 383551

Email: [email protected]

Leaflet feedback

This leaflet has been produced in partnership with patients and carers. All patient leaflets are regularly reviewed, and any suggestions you have as to how it may be improved are extremely valuable. Please write to the Clinical Governance team at:

Email: [email protected]