Offering a Broad Spectrum of Specialist Services

At Dougie Mac we have been caring for the community since 1973, providing all hospice services free of charge to local people with life-limiting illness in Stoke-on-Trent, North Staffordshire and the surrounding villages.

Dougie Mac offers a broad spectrum of palliative and end of life care services for children, young adults and adults.

Click the tabs below to find out more about referring to our services.

  • Referring to Adult Services
  • Referring to Children's Services
  • Referring to Young Adult Services
Referring to Adult Services

Referrals are accepted from any health care professional, including GPs, hospital doctors, community nurses and specialist nurses. When the GP is not the source of the referral, the patient’s GP will be informed that a referral has been made.

Download our referral form and advice notes below.

24 Hour Advice Line

The hospice has a 24/7 advice line available for healthcare professionals and for patients and carers. Calls will be answered by palliative care nurse specialists who have access to hospice medical records when the patient is known to Dougie Mac.

The advice line is also able to provide general advice for patients who may not be known to the hospice. The nurse has access to a Consultant in Palliative Medicine 24 hours a day for further advice if necessary.

Please call 01782 344300 to access our 24/7 advice line.

West Midlands Palliative Care Guide

The West Midlands Palliative Care Guide offers healthcare professionals guidance on a variety of symptoms associated with end of life care including nausea, breathlessness and pain.

Disclaimer: This Guide is intended for use by healthcare professionals and the expectation is that they will use clinical judgement, medical, and nursing knowledge in applying the general principles and recommendations contained within.

They are a summary of the current practice of specialists working in palliative care in the West Midlands Region.

Visit Guide

Healthcare Professionals Referral Forms

Download our referral forms and advice notes, all referral information can be found within the forms.

Download Files
Referring to Children's Services

Referrals to Dougie Mac’s Children’s Services can be made by the family themselves, a relative or family friend or by a professional, provided the family’s consent is obtained.

The first step is to get in touch with a Family Liaison Nurse.

Referral Criteria

We use the following broad categories to identify the children and young adults who would benefit from our services:

  • Life-threatening conditions for which curative treatment may be feasible but can fail.
  • Conditions where premature death is inevitable.
  • Progressive conditions without curative treatment options.
  • Irreversible but non-progressive conditions causing severe disability, leading to susceptibility to health complications and likelihood of premature death.

Getting in Touch

We are happy to receive referrals by phone, letter or e-mail and accept referrals at all stages of a child’s condition.

Give us a Call

Call our Family Liaison Nurses on 01782 654440, Monday - Friday 9.00am-5.00pm and we'll take your referral over the phone.

By Post

Dougie Mac Children's Services, 1 Grace Road, Trentham, Stoke-on-Trent, ST4 8FN

Referring to Young Adult Services

Referrals to Dougie Mac Young Adult Services can be made by the young person themselves, a family member or a health or social care professional. Please obtain the young adult’s consent where possible.

The first step is to get in touch with a member of the Young Adult Team.

Referral Criteria

We provide support for young adults living with life limiting / life threatening conditions or complex health needs that cannot be met in other settings.

Getting in Touch

Please call or email if you would like to discuss a new referral or to request a referral form.

Give us a Call

Call our Young Adult Team on 01782 654441, Monday - Friday 9.00am-5.00pm and we'll take your referral over the phone.

By Post

Dougie Mac Young Adult Services, 1 Grace Road, Trentham, Stoke-on-Trent, ST4 8FN

Email Us

Email young.adultteam@nhs.net

Adult Care

Children's Care

Young Adult Care

24/7 Patient Advice Line: 01782 344300

The advice line is staffed by Palliative Care Nurse Specialists 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.