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Referrals To Kirkwood Hospice
Who Is Eligible
The catchment area for referrals to Kirkwood Hospice is the Kirklees Metropolitan District Council area. Referrals from other areas will be considered if the patient has specifically requested to come to Kirkwood Hospice, for example, if their family lives within Kirklees.
People with active, progressive and advanced diseases are eligible for hospice services. This includes diseases such as cancer, heart disease, neurological diseases and lung disease as well as other life-threatening illness, from which a patient will not recover.
Hospice services include community support, in-patient care, day attendance, family care, counselling, complementary therapies, drop-in and outpatient services.
Making A Referral
Referrals to all services may be made on our Referral Form or by telephone on 01484 557900. District Nurses, General Practitioners (GPs), Social Workers, Consultants in hospitals, Specialist Nurses, such as Macmillan Nurses and any other health or social care worker, can make a referral. Discussion is always welcome about how to make a referral or whether a referral is required. If you require any further information please contact Kirkwood Hospice’s Palliative Care Team on telephone number 01484 557906.
People considering being referred may arrange to visit the hospice by contacting the Palliative Care Team. They will make an appointment for you to visit to ensure there will be some one available to spend time with you.
All referrals are considered on an individual basis.
Patients At Home
For people at home the District Nurse or GP usually initiates referral. A member of Kirkwood Hospice’s Palliative Care Team will arrange to visit the patient at home in order to assess the patient’s needs with both the patient and their family.
Patients In Hospital
People in hospital can be transferred to Kirkwood Hospice. The staff on hospital wards will usually start the referral process. They will ask a member of the hospital’s Palliative Care Team to make an assessment, which they will forward to us.
Patients and carers may make a referral themselves but we will always have to discuss the referral with the appropriate professionals before becoming involved.
Emergency Referrals
Urgent requests for admission outside normal working hours are considered according to individual need and availability of beds. Out of hours admissions will only be arranged following full discussion between the Hospice Doctor and Nurse in Charge and the patients GP or hospital Consultant.
Please call for a referral form.