How to refer a patient

LOROS accepts referrals for patients aged 18 and over who live in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland, who have a progressive terminal condition and are in need of specialist palliative care.

Referrals are accepted from GPs, hospital consultants and their teams (usually in liaison with the hospital palliative care teams) and the community nurse specialists (Macmillan and long-term condition teams).

For those hospital inpatients whose symptoms are well controlled, or whose discharge plans are in place, a LOROS admission may not be appropriate, even if it is patient preference.

Referrals may be made by SystmOne or by paper using the single referral form. For urgent ward referrals please ring (0116) 231 3771.

The community nurse specialists (CNS) in palliative care are a team of nurses who work closely with GPs to provide specialist advice and support to patients and families.

Each GP practice has a CNS in palliative care who works closely with the practice. The LOROS CNS team covers the majority of city practices and the Macmillan CNS team covers the majority in the county but there is some overlap. See the full list of which clinical nurse specialist covers which GP practice.

When referring to the Community Nurse Specialist team, the referral form for the community nurse specialists in palliative care can also be used.

Please clearly identify the specific reasons for referral.

It is very useful to share relevant clinical information as you refer the patient – for example recent hospital letters, a share with consent on SystmOne, oncology annotations.

Photograph of doctor at LOROS

All referrals must have the consent of the patient

Please note:

From 30th August 2018, seven beds located on the LOROS inpatient ward will be taken out of use to allow for essential improvement work. They are likely to remain closed for approximately 12 weeks.

During the closure we will be working with other provider organisations to care for patients with complex symptoms in hospital or at home as our bed capacity will be reduced.

The refurbished beds will reopen as soon as possible, allowing us to continue to provide the highest quality care for patients and their relatives.

The referral process remains unchanged, and each referral will be made on a case by case basis.

Inpatient referrals for symptom control

We accept referrals for patients with complex symptoms that are not improving despite treatment. Symptoms may be a combination of physical, such as pain or nausea, and/or psychological/spiritual. Most patients stay less than two weeks before discharge, by which time symptoms are usually under control.

Inpatient referrals for last days of life care

We accept referrals for care in the last days of life though we may not be able to meet the expectation or demand for all patients who choose to come to LOROS.

Day therapy

In addition, the LOROS Day Therapy service accepts referrals from health and social care professionals for unresolved, difficult to control symptoms, psychological and social issues.

The current environment in day therapy may not be suitable for some patients with dementia who wander or are agitated, but all patients will have their individual needs considered.

Access to our Therapeutic Programe in Day Therapy is the same as above, through the Hospice.

Community Nurse Specialist team

Photograph of a nurse talking to a patient Referrals will be considered for patients who have:

  • A diagnosis of advanced, life limiting illness
  • Complex physical, psychological or spiritual symptoms which are escalating and/or unresolved
  • Complex social needs resulting from their illness

Please state urgency of response within 48 hrs, one week or two weeks on the referral form. If 48-hour response is required, referral must be accompanied by a telephone call from the referrer – (0116) 231 8402.

Photograph of a patient laying in a bed

Counselling & bereavement service

Referrals can be made for individuals or couples who meet the following criteria:

  • The client’s GP is based in Leicester, Leicestershire or Rutland
  • The client(s) should be aged 18 or over
  • The client is affected by the impact of cancer/end stage illness

Lymphoedema service

The referral criteria for this nurse-led service is any patient with primary or cancer related lymphoedema. The service will also accept referrals for patients with complex secondary lymphoedema. See our clinical guidelines for details of our local antimicrobial guidelines. Professionals wishing to discuss referrals and any concerns can contact a lymphoedema specialist nurse on (0116) 2318429 between 9am and 5pm.

Home visiting service

The home visiting service can provide patients and carers with a home visitor for a few hours a week, to allow carers to leave home with peace of mind and spend time doing other things.

LOROS in Rutland

We now offer a number of services at Uppingham Surgery in Rutland. The services provide support for terminally ill people, their family and carers by providing care and services closer to home and improving their experience and outcomes.

The services available at Uppingham Surgery in Rutland, are:

LOROS Consultant Clinic
Last Wednesday of every month
The clinic is for patients with difficult symptoms.

Lypmhoedema Specialist Clinic
Launching Wednesday 18th January, then the third Wednesday of every month.
We would like to see patients who meet our referral criteria and will offer treatments and discuss options for future care.

Bereavement Support Group
We would like to see patients who meet our referral criteria and will offer structured group support as we do at LOROS. Contact us for next available dates.

For more information on any of these services please call (0116) 231 8429.

Referral to our Rutland service remains the same as above, through the Hospice.