Your 24/7 Palliative Care Helpline
The Palliative Care Helpline provides a single point of access for 24/7 advice, support, and information for persons who may be in the last 12 months of life, their families, carers, and health and social care professionals across Highland and Argyll and Bute.
The Helpline is led by highly experienced nurses and delivered in partnership by Highland Hospice and NHS Highland. Our nurses offer advice, support and information and work closely with the people involved in your care. We can contact other services on your behalf if needed, such as a doctor, district nurse, hospice or other.
With your permission, our nurses can access your health record to review your current situation and medication. They will also add the details of your call to your record so your usual healthcare team can access this. With this extra support in your own home, you may be able to avoid unwanted hospital stays wherever possible.
When should I call?
If you, or your carers, need support we’re here for you 24/7.
Call us when:
- Your GP surgery is closed
- Instead of calling 111
- You’re feeling anxious of frightened at any time
- You’re finding it difficult to get help, day or night, and you need advice
What should I expect when I call?
A call handler at our local Highland Hub will answer your call. Your details will be transferred to one of our nurses who will then return your call. When you call, we’ll ask for:
- Name and date of birth
- Phone number, address and location
- Brief description of the problem
Our nurses are available 24/7 and will return your call as soon as possible. Please be aware that the Palliative Care Helpline is not an emergency service. In an emergency, please call 999.
Who can call?
If you are living with a life-limiting illness or if you're caring for someone toward the end of life, we're here for you.
Whether you're a family member or a professional working in a care home, GP surgery, or in the community you can call us at any time.
The 24/7 Palliative Care Helpline is not an emergency service, but our highly skilled nurses will respond to all calls within the hour wherever possible. In an emergency always call 999.