OUR DEPARTMENTS

Palliative Medicine (Margaret Centre)

What we do

We help provide palliative care - this means relief of symptoms but not cure.

The Margaret Centre, part of Whipps Cross, is the base for local Specialist Palliative Care Services.

These specialist services are available to people affected by life-limiting illnesses who have complex needs that other doctors, nurses and health care providers are unable to treat.

The services include:

  • Community Macmillan Nurses
  • Hospital Palliative Care Team
  • Inpatient Unit (12 beds)
  • Medical Outpatient Clinic
  • Psychological Support Service - this includes bereavement counselling for young persons, bereavement counselling for adults and Zig Zag children's bereavement counselling service.

How to contact us

  • Dr Elisabeth Bjorndal
    Consultant in Palliative Medicine

020 8539 5522 ext: 5399

  
  • Service Manager/Head of Nursing

020 8539 5522 ext: 5727
  • Irene Charter
    Assistant Service Manager/Central Referrals Officer

020 8539 5522 ext: 5288
  • Macmillan Nurses (Waltham Forest)

020 8535 6714 
  • The Margaret Centre - Inpatient Unit

020 8535 6604
Fax: 020 8535 6952
  • The Margaret Centre email

margaretcentre@whippsx.nhs.uk
  • Psychological Support Service

020 8539 5592

Where to find us

The Margaret Centre is located in Margaret Close in the Green Zone. Nearest access is from the James Lane entrance to the hospital at Margaret Close, or opposite Byran Ward in Margaret Road.

How to find us

For more information on how to find these locations or how to get the hospital please look under our 'Where to find us section'.

Opening Times

  • Margaret Centre Inpatient unit:
    Please remember patients sometimes get tired quickly and if this happens, staff may advise a limit to visiting times.

No restriction on visiting hours. 
  • Other services:
    Availability of staff varies

8.30am - 4pm
Monday to Friday

How to get treatment

In order to be accepted as a patient, people will need to meet the following criteria as well as the criteria specific to each service into which they are referred:

The person referred must be:

  • Aged 17 or over (except in the case of Pyschological Support Service)
  • Be living with a life-limiting and progressive illness, or a family member or carer of someone living with a progressive life-limiting illness
  • Have complex symptoms resulting from disease or disease progression
    and/or
  • Have complex psychological/social/spiritual needs which cannot be met by the supportive palliative care provided by other professionals
  • Agree to the referral

In addition, the person's GP (or if they are in hospital, their consultant) must be aware of the referral.

Further Information

  • Who can refer?
    Anyone can make a referral (including patients, their carers/families).  However it is essential that the person's GP (or if they are in hospital, their consultant) is aware of the referral.
  • How do I make a referral?
    By telephone, Monday to Friday, 8.30am - 3.30pm on 020 8535 6952.

    By fax anytime by sending a completed referral form (see link below) to:  020 8535 6952.

    By post to:  The Referrals Officer, The Margaret Centre, Whipps Cross University Hospital NHS Trust, Whipps Cross Road, Leytonstone, London E11 1NR
  • How do you deal with my referral?
    Referrals are discussed at the next multidisciplinary meeting.  These are held weekdays at 9.15am.

    The team identifies and allocates a key worker.  They will be a member of the service most appropriate to meet the needs identified.

    You will be contacted by the key worker and advised on the response to be made.

    Please note incomplete referral forms will not be processed until sufficient information is received.

Documents to Download

There are a number of patient information leaflets available to download. Just click on the relevant link below:

Files