Palliative Care
in Dumfries and Galloway
Specialist palliative care in Dumfries and Galloway is provided in three main areas.
The Alexandra Unit or Ward B1 in Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary is the inpatient, NHS funded specialist palliative care unit, similar to a hospice inpatient unit in other areas.
The community team work with community providers to provide expert advice, assessment and suggested management strategies.
The hospital palliative care team work with the team responsible for the patient to provide expert assessment and suggest management strategies.
Compassionate palliative care communities are communities where there are initiatives to help people living and working within communities to provide palliative care support. If you are interested in developing a compassionate community in your area email the website, and have look at this link from the Scottish Partnership for Palliative Care.
The Alexandra Unit (Ward B1)
Named in honour of Princess Alexandra who opened the first unit in the “old” hospital, the “Alex unit” is an 8-bed specialist palliative care unit within Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary (Ward B1). Patients are accepted for symptom control, psychosocial support and end of life care (care in last days of life). It is not a long-stay unit, but people’s needs and length of stay will be assessed on an ongoing, individual basis.
The lead nurses and doctors are shown to the right – there is also input from the hospital Allied Health Professionals including Physiotherapy, Dieticians, Occupational therapy, Psychology, Social Work and Spiritual Care.
If you think you or a friend or loved one would benefit from an inpatient stay, please speak to your usual health or social care provider, or to the Macmillan nurse looking after you if you are known to the team.
Kelly Lumsden
Senior Charge Nurse
Laura Innes
Deputy Charge Nurse
Dr Sarah Pickstock
Consultant Palliative Medicine
Dr Ruth Morrison
Associate Specialist Palliative Medicine
Dr Chamila Nagodavithana
LAS Palliative Medicine
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The Community Specialist Palliative Care Team
Welcome from the Community Specialist Palliative Care team. Together, the Macmillan nurses and the Marie Curie nurses work closely with primary care and other teams in the community. The community team can visit any community setting, including community hospitals, care homes and prisons.
The Macmillan Clinical Nurse Specialists provide symptom control, emotional support for patients and families, and help with planning future care. This support may be provided by giving advice to other teams or direct contact with patients via phone, Near Me or face to face. Medical staff in the Specialist Team also review patients in the community in this way.
We have Marie Curie nurses who form a “Rapid response” overnight service, working with community nurses to support patients with palliative care needs, in their own home or community setting, who need urgent care between 9pm and 7am. There is also a “planned sitting service” available where a shift is provided by Marie Curie to allow the main carer respite, or to provide additional support to an individual living alone.
Kirsty Morris
MacMillan Palliative Care Clinical Nurse Specialist
GP Surgeries: Annan, Lockerbie, Ecclefechan, Langholm, Canonbie, Gretna, Lochmaben, Moffat
Kirsty Gaffney
MacMillan Palliative Care Clinical Nurse Specialist
GP Surgeries: New Abbey, St Michaels, Charlotte Street, Castle Douglas, Dalbeattie, New Galloway, Kirkcudbright, Gatehouse of Fleet
Katie McMillan
MacMillan Palliative Care Clinical Nurse Specialist
GP Surgeries: Sanquhar, Thornhill, Dunscore, Greyfriars, Gillbrae, Lochthorn
Barbara Maxwell
MacMillan Palliative Care Clinical Nurse Specialist
GP Surgeries: Newton Stewart, Glenluce, Wigtown, Stranraer, Sandhead, Drumore, Whithorn and Port William, Galloway Community Hospital
Dr Sarah Pickstock
Consultant Palliative Medicine
The Hospital Specialist Palliative Team
Our hospital team is made up of a hospital Macmillan CNS and medical staff. We have input from other staff within the hospital such as care assessors, physiotherapists and spiritual care.
There are face to face reviews available 9am-5pm seven days per week from the specialist team. You or your loved one will usually stay under the care of the team on the ward they are on, with the palliative care team supporting them. Outwith these hours, Palliative Medicine consultant telephone advice is available to medical staff or advanced practitioners, so there is 24/7 advice available to ensure symptoms can be managed as effectively as possible whatever the day or time.
Referrals are accepted for symptom control, psychological support, or support in the last days of life.
If you think that you or a loved one would benefit from a referral to the hospital team, please discuss this with your ward team who can refer if needed.
There is also a Macmillan drop in centre in DGRI to the left of the main entrance (just before entering oncology). More information can be found via this link.
Nigel Wilson
Macmillan Clinical Nurse Specialist
Dr Sarah Pickstock
Consultant Palliative Medicine
Dr Ruth Morrison
Associate Specialist Palliative Medicine
Dr Chamila Nagodavithana
Specialty Doctor Palliative Medicine
