Community Palliative Care

Galway Hospice Community Palliative Care Team look after patients in their own home, providing advice and support on symptom management and
End-of-Life care planning to patients of any age with advanced cancer or other life-limiting illness. They work closely with your GP and Public Health Nurses.

The Team consists of Clinical Nurse Specialists in Palliative Care (CNSp) as well as Doctors, Social Workers and Pastoral Care. 

Many patients express a wish to be looked after in the comfort and familiarity of their own home. The Community Palliative Care Team provide the support to enable and facilitate this wish. 

The Community Palliative Care Service is provided to the people of Galway City and County and also patients that reside on the Islands off the coast of Galway. 

The Community Palliative Care Team provide advice and support on:  

  • Pain & Symptom Management 
  • Information, specialist advice and support to you and your family on your care 
  • Offer emotional and psychological support.
  • Provide spiritual support. 

Referrals

Referrals are accepted for patients of any age in the advanced stages of cancer or other life-limited illness. Referrals are accepted from a GP or Hospital Consultants.

Once the referral is received by the Community Palliative Care Team, arrangements for the first visit will be made and your GP will be informed of the visit. Your Public Health Nurse will be informed by letter of our involvement in your care. 

We arrange to contact new patients within 24 to 72 hours of a patient being referred to this service. Visits are arranged on a medical priority basis. The frequency of visits are determined by the patient’s individual needs.

Referrals from Hospital Consultants or General Practitioners may be made by completing the Palliative Care Service referral form.

Education

The Community Palliative Care Team are also involved in ongoing support and advice to other health care professionals on pain, symptom management and End-of-Life care planning.