Abstract

Objectives: City Hospice is a community specialist palliative care (SPC) team caring for the population of Cardiff. A service evaluation was undertaken to review the scope of SPC input required for residents referred from care homes (residential and nursing homes).

Methods: A mixed method evaluation was undertaken for all patients from care homes referred between 1st January 2019 and 31st December 2020. Key themes of the required input from the SPC team were captured, and statistical analysis performed on the dataset.

Results: 272 referrals (12% of total referrals) were from care homes during the specified time period, the majority with a non-malignant diagnosis. 81% of residents were deemed to have SPC needs on first assessment. The main SPC needs fell into the following categories: recognition of a deterioration, symptom control, future care planning(FCP), symptom control, and facilitation of communication and supporting care home staff.

Conclusions: Community SPC teams have an important role in supporting residents, care home and primary care in delivering high quality palliative care. This role has been amplified in the current constraints placed on health and social care due to the COVID-19 pandemic.