Background The National Institute for Clinical Excellence recommended that Cancer Networks should provide 24 h access to specialist palliative care telephone advice. The Manual of Cancer Services 2004 suggested that a telephone advice service should be available to core members of cancer MDTs. Clatterbridge Centre for Oncology is a tertiary cancer centre with more than 7000 new patients every year. A specialist palliative care service is available 7 days per week 9–5 but the 24 h access is provided by an informal arrangement with a single clinician. Healthcare professionals working in tertiary cancer centres often have an increased knowledge of palliative care and it has been suggested that 24 h access to specialist advice may not be as important as for district general hospitals.

Aim To explore the views of healthcare professionals working in a tertiary cancer centre about the need for 24 h access to specialist palliative care advice.

Method A questionnaire was distributed to healthcare professionals in a tertiary cancer centre asking for their views on: areas of concern use of current informal advice provision impact of advice on patient care.

Results The questionnaire was distributed to 129 staff. The response rate was 47%. In the previous 4 weeks advice had been required on 46 occasions. 54% of staff had requested advice. 97% found the advice very helpful.100% felt that the advice had a positive impact on patient care.

Conclusion This survey demonstrated that staff in a tertiary cancer centre had palliative care educational needs and valued access to specialist palliative care advice believing that it had a positive impact on patient care.