History
Tata Memorial Centre, with over 75 years of exceptional patient care, high-quality training and innovative cancer research, has grown, maintaining a pre-eminent position at the forefront of national and global cancer control efforts. At present, the hospital caters to over 70,000 new patients per year.
The hospital provides holistic and comprehensive patient care, with various services available like Medical Oncology, Surgical Oncology, Radiation Oncology, Anesthesia, Critical Care Medicine and Pain, Intervention Radiology, Nuclear Medicine, Radiodiagnosis, General Medicine, Palliative Medicine, Nursing, Pathology, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Medical Gastroenterology, Pediatric Oncology, Psycho-oncology and Psychiatry, Haemato-Oncology, Dental services, Medical Physics, Cancer Cytogenetics, Cytopathology, Preventive Oncology, Pulmonary Medicine, Transfusion Medicine, along with various ancillary services like Medical Social Work, Rehabilitation Services, Stoma Care Clinic, Telemedicine, Tissue Bank, Patient Navigation, etc.
Profile
The Palliative Care service at Tata Memorial Hospital was established in 1996. Over the past 25 years it has deepened its roots and spread its branches far and wide, providing peaceful shade to thousands of advanced care patients. Total bio-psycho-socio-spiritual care is delivered by expert professionals from different disciplines and thus, we are not just doctors, but a clinical team, working to support each other as much as we care for our patients.
The Department of Palliative Medicine at Tata Memorial Hospital represents a comprehensive and sustainable model of evidence based, person centered and individualised care that enhances wellbeing at the physical, emotional, social and spiritual dimensions for patients with serious health-related suffering due to severe illness and their caregivers.
The Department of Palliative Medicine, Tata Memorial Hospital started India's first MD Palliative Medicine programme in 2012. The department has so far trained 20 MD students and 7 students are under training.
Specialities
- Specialist Oncological Palliative Care
- Paediatric Palliative Care
- Respite Palliative Care
- Palliative Care in Oncology Emergency Department
- Home based Palliative Care
- Early Palliative Care
- Integrated Palliative care in Hematolymphoid Malignancies
- End of life care
Palliative and Supportive Care
Patients are identified and referred to specialist oncological palliative care services, run by the Department of Palliative Medicine, early in the course of their disease, from various multidisciplinary disease management groups. The patients are assessed by a team of specialist Palliative Medicine doctors, nurses, social workers and volunteer counselors and are routinely followed up by the Oncologists and Palliative Medicine team.
There is liaison and continuity of care between the Oncology and Palliative Medicine teams for the patients for whom palliative care is integrated at the point of diagnosis of advanced cancer or when patients have complex or refractory symptoms or needs. Integration of palliative care is the focus of the clinical care services. For patients who are on best supportive care only, there is continuity of care between the Palliative Medicine team and community palliative care providers and primary care physicians.
With our range of services, we care for about 170-200 patients per day.
Last update: August 2022
