As part of our work to improve specialist palliative care services in north west London, we are proposing to introduce 46 new enhanced end-of-life beds within our adult community specialist palliative care bed services.
The 46 new beds will be a significant step forward in providing compassionate and specialised care for patients nearing the end-of-life and will double our existing bed capacity.
The new beds will be available to residents of all eight boroughs in north west London. They are designed to bridge a gap in our current healthcare provision that many residents who contributed to the development of the proposed new model of care identified, and will help ensure that patients receive the quality of palliative care they need.
The enhanced end-of-life beds will be integrated into existing community bed services, such as nursing homes or other community bedded units. These beds will be staffed 24/7 by nurses and healthcare assistants, who have received specialised training in palliative and end-of-life care. There will also be a weekly ward round of the patients admitted to the enhanced end-of-life beds by the community specialist palliative care team, and patients will have access to the community specialist palliative care multidisciplinary team throughout their admission.
This initiative addresses the needs of patients who do not meet the criteria or need for a hospice inpatient bed, but can't stay at home, don't wish to stay at home, and prefer not to be in a hospital for their care. This is especially true for those living alone without a local support system. They also offer the possibility of short-term respite care.
By offering this intermediate level of care, we can ensure that more patients have access to the specialised support they need in a comfortable and familiar community setting, reducing unnecessary hospital emergency department attendances.
Expert support around the clock
Each enhanced end-of-life bed will be supported by specially trained staff, including registered nurses and healthcare assistants with expertise in palliative care and end-of-life care. The staff will provide continuous care, ensuring that patients receive 24-hour support of their palliative care needs.
A key feature of this service is the weekly ward round of the patients admitted to the enhanced end-of-life beds by the community specialist palliative care team, with access to the community specialist palliative care multidisciplinary team throughout their admission.
Collaborative and comprehensive care
The patient will remain under the care of the registered GP, as if the case with all community bedded care, however the supervision of these beds will be by the adult community specialist palliative care team and their multidisciplinary team.
The community specialist palliative care team will regularly collaborate with the registered GP, other community supporting services and the patient, including those who matter most to them, to support personalised care.
This new service has the potential to address an unmet need for our residents in north west London. By providing these specialised care beds, we can offer more patients the opportunity to receive the palliative care they need in a supportive, dignified environment, closer to their loved ones.