Continuous and palliative care

Across CHIREC’s various sites, palliative care is organised into multidisciplinary, in-hospital mobile teams comprising a doctor, a nurse and a psychologist.

These teams provide second-opinion advice on symptom management, ethical issues or patient care following hospitalisation, and offer additional support to the patient, their loved ones or the healthcare team.

They visit the patient’s bedside at the request of the responsible specialist doctor, who makes the request on their own behalf or on behalf of the patient, their loved ones or the healthcare team.

Our services are aimed at:

Patients facing a serious, incurable illness, for whom the goal is no longer a cure but comfort and relief.
Loved ones/families/support network: for guidance, psychological support, information, advice, and a space to be heard and supported.
Healthcare professionals (doctors, nurses, carers, psychologists, physiotherapists, etc.): for the coordination of care, support and training in palliative care within an interdisciplinary setting.

The role of the mobile team

At the request of the hospital care team, the mobile continuous and palliative care team works alongside patients and their loved ones to provide specialised support in complex situations related to the end of life or serious progressive illnesses.

Our team provides expertise in the assessment and relief of symptoms such as pain, anxiety, respiratory distress or any other discomfort. The aim is to improve the patient’s quality of life by tailoring care to their needs and wishes.

End-of-life situations can sometimes raise difficult questions. The mobile team helps to inform ethical decision-making, taking into account the clinical condition and the values of the patient, their family and the professionals involved, in order to support fair and respectful decisions.

In collaboration with the referring teams, we help develop a coherent, person-centred care plan. This includes assessing the benefits and limitations of treatments and supporting the patient in expressing their preferences.

When the patient’s condition requires it, the mobile team may propose a reassessment of the care pathway and an appropriate reorientation: supervised return home, nursing home, or hospital palliative care unit. The aim is to maintain care that is appropriate, balanced and in line with the progression of the illness.