Opioid conversion

Common reasons for switching:

  • Current opioid not helping the pain
  • Current opioid causing toxic symptoms (hallucinations, twitching, sedation)
  • Need an alternative route eg a patch because of vomiting or poor swallow

ALWAYS check a conversion dose with a colleague, especially if unfamiliar with opioids

This Opioid dose conversion chart is from Royal United Hospitals Bath:

mceu-9396821611698919002233.png

West Midlands CARES website has in depth advice about switching opioids and caveats to looks out for including renal function, age, dose, weight etc.

An online Opioid Dose Calculator is also available on the PANG Palliative Guidelines website

Recommended Resources

PANG - Opioid Dose Calculator

Published 9th November 2023

Royal United Hospitals Bath - Opioid Conversion Chart

Published 1st January 2019

West Midlands Palliative Care - Relative doses of opioids

Published 1st August 2018

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Pharmacies

Alpha Chemist
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A community pharmacy which stocks common palliative medicines to support people being cared for at home

Address: 480 Church Road, Northolt, Middlesex, UB5 5AU

Opening hours: Monday and Tuesday 9.00am to 6.00pm. Wednesday 9.00am to 5.30pm. Thursday and Friday 9.00am to 6.00pm. Saturday 9.00am to 1.00pm

Anmol Pharmacy
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Anmol Pharmacy

T. 020 8606 9269

W. http://www.anmolpharmacy.co.uk/

A community pharmacy which stocks common palliative medicines to support people being cared for at home

Address: 97 North Road, Southall, UB1 2JW

Opening hours: Monday to Saturday 9.00am to 9.00pm

Ariana Pharmacy
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Ariana Pharmacy

T. 020 8575 6600

W. https://www.arianapharmacy.co.uk/

A community pharmacy which stocks common palliative medicines to support people being cared for at home

Address: 472 Greenford Road, Greenford, UB6 8SQ

Opening hours: Monday and Tuesday 9.00am to 9.00pm. Wednesday to Friday 9.00am to 8.00pm. Saturday 9.00am to 7.00pm. Sunday 10.00am to 4.00pm

Asda In-Store Pharmacy
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Asda In-Store Pharmacy

T. 020 8951 9119

A community pharmacy which stocks common palliative medicines to support people being cared for at home

Address: Park Royal Industrial Est, 2-20 Western Road, NW10 7LW

Opening hours: Monday to Saturday 9.00am to 8.00pm. Sunday 11.00am to 5.00pm

Banks Chemist
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A community pharmacy which stocks common palliative medicines to support people being cared for at home

Address: 59 Old Oak Common Lane, East Acton London W3 7DD

Opening hours: Monday to Friday 9.00am to 6.30pm. Saturday 9.00am to 2.00pm

Gill Chemist
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Gill Chemist

T. 020 8571 1555

A community pharmacy which stocks common palliative medicines to support people being cared for at home

Address: 31-33 King Street, Southall, UB2 4DG

Opening hours: Monday to Friday 9.00am to 8.00pm. Saturday 9.00am to 7.00pm. Sunday 12.00pm to 7.00pm

Lymphoedema services

British Lymphology Society
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British Lymphology Society

W. https://www.thebls.com/directory/london

The British Lymphology Society provides a directory of Lymphoedema treatment services.

Use the website address above to find your local services.

LymphConnect
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LymphConnect is an online platform developed to help manage lymphoedema or lipoedema, understand more about the condition, share experiences and get support and advice.

 

Palliative care teams

Community Palliative Care Team - based at Meadow House Hospice
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Community Palliative Care Team - based at Meadow House Hospice

T. 020 8967 5179

W. https://www.lnwh.nhs.uk/meadow-house-hospice/#community-palliative-care-team

The Community Specialist Palliative Care Nurse Team provides advice and visiting to palliative care patients in Ealing and Hounslow. The team are based at Meadow House Hospice.

The team will visit patients with progressive life limiting illness in their own homes. They provide specialist advice around pain and symptom control and support for patients, their families, and carers during the last stages of illness. They also support patients wishing to die at home through coordination with GPs and hospital teams.

The team is comprised of medical consultants, specialist nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, social workers, a bereavement support officer and a patient and carer advocacy worker

The team can be contacted for referrals Monday to Friday 9.00am to 5.00pm.

Between Monday to Friday 5.00pm and 8.30am, the Out of Hours Telephone Advice line 020 8102 5000 takes calls. Weekends and Bank Holidays 5.00pm to 9.00am.

Referral form for clinician use only.

Community Specialist Palliative Care Referral Form V4.2 (DOCX)
Meadow House Hospice Inpatient Unit
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Meadow House Hospice Inpatient Unit

T. 0208 967 5179

W. http://meadowhouse.lnwh.nhs.uk

Meadow House Hospice provides inpatient palliative care services to the residents of Ealing.

The hospice has a 15 bedded inpatient unit supported by a team of dedicated staff providing 24/7 specialist support to patients and their family members. Patients with a progressive life limiting illness can be admitted for symptom management or end of life care.

Patients have a safe, dignified space of their own and the flexibility to spend time alone or in company, surrounded by their possessions and the people they care about. The hospice also has an extensive garden area that provides a quiet and reflective environment for both patients and family members.

Please contact the hospice Monday to Friday 8.30am to 4.30pm and during the weekend 9.00am to 5.00pm on 0208 242 5817.

There is a 24 hour telephone support line to the hospice ward on 0208 967 5597.

Bereavement services to support family members, friends and carers connected to a loved one who was cared for by the Hospice, can be contacted via main switchboard.  

Referral form for clinician use only.

Community Specialist Palliative Care Referral Form V4.2 (DOCX)
Planned Night End of Life Care
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Planned Night End of Life Care

T. 0203 370 2208

This is an overnight service and is provided by Marie Curie via Meadow House Hospice for residents of Ealing and Hounslow. This service provides one to one overnight nursing support, symptom control, management of pain, emotional and practical support for patients in their last few weeks of life.

Referrals are made via Local Clinical Coordination Centre Monday to Sunday from 10.00pm to 7.00am.

Marie Curie Planned Night Services Referral Form (DOCX)

Cancer services

Marie Curie
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Marie Curie

T. 0800 090 2309

W. https://www.mariecurie.org.uk/

Marie Curie provide support for patients and carers through terminal illness.

Find information and support through the telephone helpline and online chat via their website.

Other services include Marie Curie nurses, Hospice care, helper and companion services.

Young lives vs Cancer
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Young lives vs Cancer

W. https://www.younglivesvscancer.org.uk/

Young lives vs Cancer support young people under 25 with cancer, and their families, to get the help they need during their cancer treatment and beyond, including bereaved families living with emotional distress. 

Overnight/weekend services

Planned Night End of Life Care
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Planned Night End of Life Care

T. 0203 370 2208

This is an overnight service and is provided by Marie Curie via Meadow House Hospice for residents of Ealing and Hounslow. This service provides one to one overnight nursing support, symptom control, management of pain, emotional and practical support for patients in their last few weeks of life.

Referrals are made via Local Clinical Coordination Centre Monday to Sunday from 10.00pm to 7.00am.

Marie Curie Planned Night Services Referral Form (DOCX)
Rapid Response End of Life Care Service
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Rapid Response End of Life Care Service

T. 0208 967 5126

Marie Curie Rapid Response Service provides short term palliative nursing interventions, symptom control, management of pain, advice, emotional and practical support to the residents of Ealing and Hounslow. This service is based at Meadow House Hospice.

The service can be contacted Monday to Sunday from 6.00pm to 7.00am.

Rapid Response Referral Form (DOCX)

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4th September 2025

Opioid toxicity: Information for clinicians

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