Make a referral

Sobell House’s specialist palliative care service is designed for patients and their families when the patient has a life-limiting condition and is (usually) in the last year of their life, their needs cannot be better met by another service, and (one or all of the following):

• The patient has physical symptoms and/or functional needs not responding to current management strategies.
• The patient and/or their family have psychological or spiritual symptoms relating to the life-limiting condition that are not responding to current management strategies.
• The patient and/or family wish to engage in advance care planning which other services feel unable to support.

Additional criteria may apply to specific to parts of the service:

• Inpatient unit – the patient is imminently dying, wishes to die in a hospice, Sobell House’s ward has the capacity to meet these needs.
• Living Well day service – the patient has a life-limiting condition and may benefit from a focused time-limited programme to enhance self-management and resilience.
• Lymphoedema service – the patient has primary and other non-cancer related lymphoedema.
• Bereavement service – in addition to individuals whose relative has died under the care of Sobell House, those whose relative has died under the care of another hospice or hospital but who live in our area.

Whilst we try to meet the needs of all those above who need and want our support, we may have to prioritise according to need if and when our capacity is limited.

Please make referrals using the e-Referral service. If you would like to discuss the referral, call 01865 857036.

Please make referrals using the e-Referral service. If you would like to discuss the referral, call 01865 225875.
External referrals: please download and fill out a referral form and return it to pallcarelivingwell@ouh.nhs.uk.

Please make referrals using the EPR Message Centre. Alternatively, during working hours you can make a direct referral:

Churchill Hospital / NOC
Tel: 01865 223585
Available: 9am – 5pm, Mon-Fri

John Radcliffe Hospital
Tel: 01865 221741
Available: 9am – 5pm, Mon-Sun

Horton General Hospital
Tel: 01295 224195
Available: 9am – 4:30pm, Mon-Fri

GP referrals can be made using this referral form. Please include medical history, current treatments, and any past or ongoing investigations.

If you would like to discuss the referral, email oxford.lymphoedemaclinic@nhs.net or call 01865 225864.

We offer bereavement support and counselling to adult bereaved relatives, friends and carers of deceased patients who were under the care of Sobell House (or another UK palliative care service).

Usually the bereaved will contact the service directly, but with their consent, we will accept referrals from family members, friends, or healthcare professionals. Make a referral: pallcarebereavement@ouh.nhs.uk or 01865 225878.

The bereavement service is not open 24-hours a day, 7 days a week, so if the situation is deemed as an emergency, please contact the relevant GP practice, mental health, or social services department.

If your concern is for a bereaved child or adolescent then please contact SeeSaw, an Oxford-based service who specialise in supporting bereaved children and young people: info@seesaw.org.uk or 01865 744768.