Our mission at The Hospice of St Francis is to include the care of patients in all settings – in the Hospice, at home and wherever else they may be cared for.
This of course includes the local hospital.
One of our senior doctors, our Macmillan Consultant in Palliative Medicine, attends the local hospitals (Hemel Hempstead and Watford General Hospital) on a regular basis and sees many patients to advise on symptom control, hold discussions about further care and help with difficult decisions.
The doctor also spends time educating doctors and nurses in the hospital about improving care for dying patients as, of course, many patients do die in hospital. The doctor can also initiate a transfer of a hospital patient to the Hospice, if that is appropriate.