Borders Ref Help Toolkit
Who can refer:
Any healthcare professional can refer although we request that the patient’s own GP is aware of the referral
Who to refer:
- Patients over 16 years (and their families and informal carers) with complex problems associated with active advanced and progressive illness, irrespective of underlying diagnosis.
- ‘Complex problems’ are defined as those which are: severe and unable to be managed by current care team or setting. Please consider early contact with the team if you have any questions regarding referral.
- If requesting an inpatient admission: the person must have active, progressing Life shortening condition resulting in complex physical, psychosocial, emotional and/or spiritual problems.
Who not to refer:
- People who do not have specialist palliative care needs
- People who do not have a life shortening condition.
- Chronic pain patients
Please contact the team for advice if unsure.
How to refer:
Referrals for Community Specialist Palliative Care Servies can be sent on Referral Form (link here) and emailed to: palliative.careteam@borders.scot.nhs.uk. Please note access to Margaret Kerr Unit from the Community can only be considered with Community Palliative CNS input.
A phone call is often helpful to highlight urgent needs and to provide background – please use phone number as below.
The team is available Mon- Friday 8.30am-4.30pm (except Bank Holidays).