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P-145 Moving towards new models of hospice care

bmjspcare · 2025-11-21 · canonical JSON source

6 visible annotations · policy: published · automated confidence ≥ 75.00%

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Background Since 2019 there has been a lack of hospice beds in Stockton, following a Care Quality Commission inspection, resulting in a period of dormancy. In recognition of the significance of this gap for patients and their families, North Tees & Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust and Butterwick Hospice agreed a collaborative approach was needed to reopen the beds.Aim Our aims are to:Provide adult inpatient palliative and end of life care.Improve flow and capacity within the acute trust.Deliver increased patient choice.Method A partnership steering group was established to implement a bespoke clinical model. Initially two beds were opened allowing transfer of patients from hospital for end of life care. We now have the full quota of eight beds open to provide end of life care and symptom management. Our workforce model consists predominantly of nursing staff. The ward is managed by a hospice manager and staffed with nurses and healthcare assistants on rotation from the hospital. Patient assessment and management is undertaken by a nurse specialist from the trust’s palliative care team. Medical support is provided by palliative medicine consultants.Results From 21 August 2023 to date we have admitted 175 patients. The majority are transferred the same day, and we have facilitated admissions from ITU and ED. A high proportion have non – malignant disease, including stroke and dementia. We have detailed quarterly reports documenting further results.Conclusion Our successful partnership offers more patients the choice of hospice care and in doing so has supported the acute trust with some of their pressures. The rotational model is upskilling the workforce and demonstrates that patients can be cared for by skilled nurses, with consultant support. Our model provides hospice care to patients with a non-cancer diagnosis, who have traditionally been under-represented in hospice inpatient units.