SUPPORTING SERVICES AT THE LONDON CLINIC
As a world-leading provider of private cancer care, The London Clinic understands that physical and emotional well-being are important to our patients during and after treatment.
At The Duchess of Devonshire Wing, we offer complementary therapy, physiotherapy, psychological support, dietetic advice and image guidance. In addition, we host a comprehensive series of Moving On workshops to support you throughout.
Confidential counselling is led by our expert oncology counsellor who can you cope better with the difficulties of cancer.
Our complementary therapists provide a full-range of holistic services to help you relax and improve your quality of life.
The London Clinic’s Moving On workshops offer information and support to help create your own Individual Wellness Plan.
Our dietetics and nutrition team is very important in complementing and enhancing procedures and cancer treatments.
This service is the first of its kind in the independent medical sector. It optimises the assessment and management of pain during both peri-operative and medical admissions.
Our cancer physiotherapist has the skill set and knowledge to help with the physical side effects of cancer or cancer treatment.
Palliative care can help improve the quality of life of patients and their families when facing a life-threatening illness.
This is achieved through the prevention and relief of pain and suffering in conjunction with other therapies that are intended to prolong life, such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy and investigations.
The London Clinic’s multi-disciplinary palliative care service is led by Dr Vinnie Nambisan, consultant in palliative medicine. Dr Nambisan is at The London Clinic three days per week, with five day support provided by a team of specialist nurses.
The team works closely with other services within The London Clinic, as well as community services, to ensure that the most appropriate care is delivered seamlessly.
Our palliative care service is available to anyone with an advancing illness that requires symptom management or supportive care.
Referrals to this service can be made by consultants, nurses and allied health care professionals.
Our service is available free-of-charge to inpatients and day case attendees of The London Clinic.
Contact our palliative care service
If you would like to meet with the team or would like to make a referral, please contact us by phone: 0203 219 3543 extension 8163.
The Palliative Care Team
All members of The London Clinic’s palliative care team have specialist training and many years of experience providing symptom control, palliative, supportive and end of life care in community, hospital and hospice settings.
Vinnie specialises in the multidisciplinary management of people facing or affected by a life limiting illness. He also provides symptom control services to people affected by treatment for ongoing conditions, including where that treatment is aimed at curing the underlying condition. His particular interests include pain management and anticipatory care planning. My working days are Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays between 9am – 3pm doing a dual role as a Palliative Care CNS with a special interest in Lung Cancer. I aim to provide excellent holistic assessment encompassing the physical, spiritual, social and psychological aspect of cancer and palliative care. My area of expertise is also providing symptom control related to treatment or disease progression like uncontrolled complex pain, and any other distressing symptoms. Also involved with complex discharge planning for end of life care by networking with the community hospices and wider multi-disciplinary (MDT) team. I shall also be able to signpost you to other relevant organisations related to your cancer for support and information. I am accessible via e-mail or mobile and will endeavour to meet patient in The London Clinic as inpatient or outpatient whenever possible. I may also be able to do consultation at the outpatient clinic by appointment. The clinical nurse specialists (CNS) in symptom management provide holistic palliative and supportive care advice, including the management of pain and symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and fatigue. We also give social, spiritual and emotional support by providing continuity of care through developing a relationship with each patient and his or her relatives and carers. We also support patients who require complex discharge planning, liaising closely with local health care authorities, GPs, and specialist teams in the community, especially with the community palliative care nurses and hospices. We offer follow-up bereavement calls to families and carers and we advise on further bereavement support in the communities. Our role also involves support for staff in other departments around the delivery of care for these patients. I am a member of the London Clinic Palliative and Supportive Care Team. We provide specialist symptom control advice and psychological support to patients and their families when facing a potentially life-limiting diagnosis. We aim to support patients to attain the best quality of life possible from diagnosis through to end of life. In order to achieve this we work closely with other specialist teams both in and outside of the clinic. I work on Wednesdays and Fridays but there is a member of the team available within the clinic from Monday- Saturday. Dr Vinnie Nambisan - Consultant in Palliative Medicine
Anita Kolandaisamy - Palliative Care and Lung Clinical Nurse Specialist
Christina Watkins - Palliative Care Clinical Nurse Specialist
Helen McInnes - Symptom Control Clinical Nurse Specialist
'Excellent'
The London Clinic achieved an overall score of 5 (excellent) in its first Macmillan Quality Environment Mark (MQEM).
Concierge service
We can support our patients with travel, hotel accommodation, London tours, plus theatre and restaurant reservations.
Main numbers
General enquiries: 020 7935 4444 Appointments: 020 7616 7693 Self-Pay: 020 3219 3315
Other numbers
Concierge service: 020 3219 3323International office: 020 3219 3266Invoice and payment enquiries: 020 7616 7708Press office: 020 7616 7676
Your call may be recorded for training and monitoring purposes.
