Palliative Care

What is Palliative Care?

Palliative care is care for people living with a life-limiting diagnosis and their families:

  • The aim is to help people live as fully and actively as possible throughout their illness, affirming life and recognising dying as a natural process.
  • It supports the whole person, addressing not just physical needs, but also psychological, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing.
  • Care is delivered by a coordinated team of health and social care professionals, working together to meet the needs of both patients and their loved ones.
  • Palliative care is available at any stage of a life-limiting illness. It can be provided alongside treatments intended to prolong life, such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy or surgery.
  • Manages pain and other distressing symptoms, focusing on comfort and quality of life.
  • Families and carers are supported too, both during the illness and through bereavement.

Palliative Care at NHS Orkney

Palliative care at NHS Orkney aims to improve the quality of life for patients and their families facing the challenges of any life-limiting illness. This is achieved through the prevention and relief of suffering by means of early identification, careful assessment, and treatment of pain and other symptoms – whether physical, psychosocial, or spiritual. We aim to support people to remain as well as possible in their own homes, care homes, or hospital, according to their wishes. We aim to promote comfort, alleviate distress, and support people to die in their preferred place of care whenever possible.

Who Provides Palliative Care in Orkney?

Palliative care is delivered by a wide range of health and social care professionals working in the community, care homes, and The Balfour hospital. Services are delivered in partnership with Orkney Islands Council and other voluntary sector partners, ensuring joined-up care across health and social care:

  • District Nursing Teams: Provide care and support in patients’ own homes and care homes.
  • GPs and Allied Health Professionals: Work closely with the Macmillan and Marie Curie teams, providing ongoing care and support.
  • Macmillan at The Balfour: A four-bedded inpatient unit and treatment room for cancer patients and those with long-term conditions. The team offers medical and nursing oncology and palliative care, including pain control, symptom management, blood transfusions, chemotherapy, lymphoedema management, and emotional support for patients and families. Clinical Specialist Nurses act as a link between Macmillan and the community, ensuring continuity of care. Emotional, practical, and bereavement support is available for families and carers, recognising their vital role in the care journey
  • Marie Curie Health Care Assistants: Now based in Orkney, working alongside District Nursing Teams to provide care, emotional support, and companionship for terminally ill patients and their loved ones, both at home and in care homes. This service was piloted in 2024 and is now established as a dedicated local resource. 3 different elements of service offering available in Orkney, including Hospice Care at Home, a Companion Service and Information and Support.

How to Access Local Palliative Care Services

  • Referrals: Patients can be referred to palliative care services by their GP, hospital doctor, or other health or social care professionals. The Macmillan team and District Nursing Teams are key points of contact for advice and support.
  • Contact Macmillan: For more information or to discuss care needs, call Macmillan at The Balfour on 01856 888249 or visit MacMillan – NHS Orkney
  • Marie Curie Support: Marie Curie Health Care Assistants work in partnership with local teams. Ask your health professional for a referral to Hospice Care at Home or the Companion Service if you meet the following criteria:
  • Hospice Care at Home – Providing mainly overnight care in someone’s home. The criteria for this, is that the person must have a terminal diagnosis of approx. 3 months or less and be accepting of the referral to Marie Curie (or consent from their family if more appropriate). They also must have a GP and Community Nurse involvement in their care.
  • Companion Service – for those 18 or over with a diagnosis of a terminal illness and rough prognosis of 12 months or less, or caring for someone in that category. Find out more here: https://www.mariecurie.org.uk/services/companion

Local Support for Patients, Families and Carers

  • The Blide Trust – Orkney

Provides mental health and wellbeing support, social activities, and a welcoming community for anyone experiencing emotional distress, including those affected by serious illness or bereavement.

Website: https://www.orkneyblidetrust.org/

Phone: 01856 874874

  • Carer Support Services (Orkney Islands Council)

Offers information, advice, emotional support, and practical help for unpaid carers. Carers can request an Adult Carer Support Plan to identify their needs and access respite or other services.

Website: Carer Support Services

Phone: 01856 873535 (extension 2641)

  • Relationships Scotland – Orkney

Offers counselling, mediation, and family support for anyone affected by illness, loss, or bereavement. Based in Kirkwall.

Website: www.rsorkney.org.uk

Phone: 01856 877750

  • CLAN Cancer Support – Orkney

Provides emotional, practical, and social support for anyone affected by cancer, including families and carers. Services include counselling, complementary therapies, and support groups.

Website: CLAN in Orkney

Phone: 01856 873393

National Support

  • NHS Inform – Palliative Care and Bereavement

Practical advice, information on support groups, and links to national charities for specific conditions (e.g., Alzheimer Scotland, Parkinson’s UK, Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland, MND Scotland).

Website: NHS Inform – Palliative Care

Bereavement information: https://www.nhsinform.scot/care-support-and-rights/death-and-bereavement/bereavement-support/

Phone: 0800 22 44 88

  • Cruse Scotland (Bereavement Support)

Free, confidential support for adults, children, and young people experiencing grief or loss. Services include one-to-one counselling, group support, and a helpline.

Website: www.crusescotland.org.uk

Phone: 0808 802 6161

  • Marie Curie

For general Marie Curie advice and support, you can contact the Information and Support service. Call on 0800 090 2309 between the hours of 8am and 6pm Monday to Friday and 11am to 5pm on Saturdays. There is also a Bereavement Service available. More information is available at: Marie Curie | The UK’s leading end of life charity | Marie Curie