Freeman Centre for the Advancement of Palliative Care
North York General Hospital’s Freeman Centre for the Advancement of Palliative Care offers a program designed to meet the needs of patients living with cancer-related life-limiting illnesses as well as their loved ones. Our team provides care for patients in hospital, in clinic, and at home.
At the Freeman Centre we believe that palliative and supportive care is about:
- Dignity
- Compassion
- Quality of life
- Hope
Pat (Patricia) Mackey was an inaugural member of North York General’s Patient and Family Advisory Council following her cancer reoccurrence and while receiving care at the Freeman Centre for the Advancement of Palliative Care, she generously shared her candid thoughts and observations of what it is like to live with a terminal cancer diagnosis. Pat’s wish was that by sharing her experience, patients and families would better understand that “palliative care is about finding energy and joy in your day, not focusing on the illness.”
Freeman Centre Services:
Inpatient
We provide palliative and supportive care to inpatients across the hospital.
- Palliative and supportive care physicians will be responsible for, or participate in, coordination of care
- Short-term acute pain and symptom management beds if needed based on conversation between patient, family and healthcare team
- For some patients with palliative and supportive care needs, a longer-term stay in a hospital-like setting will become necessary, and a Palliative Care Unit is best-equipped to provide this type of care. While we do not have a PCU at NYGH, if this type of care becomes necessary, we will work with the patient and family to find a suitable PCU bed in the city. Patients will remain at NYGH until a suitable PCU bed becomes available.
Ambulatory Clinic: Palliative Care Clinic (formerly Pain & Symptom Management Clinic)
We provide in-person and virtual clinic appointments to help you manage your pain and symptoms.
- Comprehensive consultation and follow-up care
- Multidisciplinary team offers added layer of support
- Connecting patients and families to community resources
In-Home: Freeman Outreach Program
The Freeman outreach program enables adults living with advanced cancer, whose wish is to stay at home for as long as possible or to die at home, to receive in-home care from a Freeman outreach physician with the support of a clinical nurse specialist and other community supports as needed. We provide:
- Seamless care, 24 hours a day and 7 days a week
- Service within the following catchment area: south of Steeles Ave., north of Lawrence Ave., west of Victoria Park Ave., and east of Bathurst St. If you live outside of the catchment area, please speak with your family doctor or home care coordinator for local palliative and supportive care
Contact us:
For all inquiries, please contact our program administrative assistant at 416-756-6444 ext 4138
Referrals:
Access our referral forms here.
The Freeman Centre for the Advancement of Palliative Care is recognized as a leading practice by Accreditation Canada