We would like to say thank you to everyone who attended the event. Their thoughts and feedback will be used as evidence as we move forward to develop the future model of care.
View the recording of the meeting
View the presentation
Jane Wheeler (JW), Director of Local Care, NHS North West London (NW London) gave an introduction and presentation covering the development of the new model of care, the potential options for its delivery, and the decision making process.
Key points raised by attendees
- Attendees raised questions over funding, including where the funding for new services will come from, whether overall funding for CSPC services would rise with inflation. JW confirmed that funding would be worked through in the next stage of the process.
- Pembridge in-patient unit was discussed and it was noted that the feasibility of the model of care options appeared dependent on using Pembridge in-patient unit funding to support an expansion of other services. It was further noted that although this money may be better spent on other services, NW London and Hammersmith and Fulham still needed hospice in-patient bed capacity and Pembridge was particularly important for Fulham and North Kensington residents. A question was raised over the possibility of sharing the cost of the (NHS) Pembridge in-patient unit with charitable hospices, allowing a hospice to run an in-patient unit at Pembridge or allowing hospices to take over the site/service. JW noted that discussions are ongoing with stakeholders and local residents over options to re-open Pembridge and that this could include exploring these points.
- Questions were asked over the availability of the specialist staff formerly employed at the Pembridge in-patient unit and whether other services such as Hospice@Home or end-of-life training and teaching could be run from the building.
- Concerns highlighted issues facing human resources and whether NW London advertise internationally for roles (e.g. Pembridge In-patient unit).
- Questions were raised over the proposed enhanced end-of-life care beds, how these will work and how they differ from hospice at home services.
- Concerns about frail elderly spouses and carers being able to travel to hospices that are further away (than Pembridge). JW highlighted travel mapping and explained the challenges in doing this and noted that the technical mapping may not match some peoples’ real world experience.
- The importance of working with different communities, for example a gay carer caring for a religious person who is uncomfortable with this. Also different cultural diets need to be taken into account where meals are being prepared and provided.
- Why Hammersmith and Fulham lacks a Hospice@Home offer currently, particularly as it also lacks an in-patient unit at Pembridge.
- How NHS NW London links to existing education and training such as paramedics doing MSC at University of NW London in Ealing.