To support those with progressive life-limiting illness
Four organisations are working together in Wandsworth to deliver an innovative new service enabling people with a progressive, life-limiting illness to have access to high quality care and support, in the right place and at the right time.
The new Care Coordination Centre aims to reduce inappropriate hospital admissions and enable more people to be cared for and to die in their place of choice, which is often a patient’s own home.
Funded by Wandsworth CCG, this two-year pilot is jointly provided by Trinity Hospice, Marie Curie and St George’s Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.
People living with a progressive, life-limiting illness often need a number of services to support them at home. Their families and carers may also need advice and help with their caring role. Currently these services are provided by a range of organisations across health, social and voluntary sectors. With involvement from many different care providers, it can be confusing for patients and their carers looking for support at home when they’re unsure of who does what or who to call in times of crisis. This can result in distress 999 calls and unnecessary hospital admissions.
The Care Coordination Centre is managed by end-of-life care charity Trinity Hospice from its base in Clapham. The centre’s care coordinators work closely with local health and social care providers to act as a central point of contact for arranging a range of services for patients who are being cared for at home. These services could include health and personal care support, overnight nursing care and access to advice and equipment, all of which can help patients to remain at home where most people wish to be.
Patients and their families will benefit from having one point of contact for care and support rather than having to go to each care provider separately. Additionally, the coordination centre also acts as a resource for patients and their families, and local healthcare professionals, offering a helpline they can contact if they need any advice and support with their care or information about the services they are getting.
As part of this pilot, Marie Curie Health and Personal Care Assistants are available to care for people at home or in care homes. They provide specialised health, social and personal care support during the day and skilled nursing care throughout the night, so patients with end of life care needs are well looked after where they live. The health and personal care assistants also provide vital emotional support for patients’ families and carers.
Additionally, a dedicated Community Nurse for End of Life Care from St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust will support local community nurses by offering them extra support, advice and capacity to care for patients with end of life care needs. The community nurse also ensures a more responsive, joined up service between the coordination centre and community nursing teams.
Cathy Maylin, Head of the Care Coordination Centre, said: “I am delighted that four organisations have come together to be involved in this innovative joint venture that puts patients’ and carers’ needs first. The coordination centre will help to simplify a complex system for patients and their families, so they can spend less time dealing with different service providers and more time doing the things that matter to them.”
The Care Coordination Centre went live in February 2015, with a formal launch event taking place on Wednesday 20th May 2015. The launch event will coincide with Dying Matters Awareness Week (18-24 May), which aims to help people talk more openly about dying, death and bereavement, and to make plans for the end of life.
The Wandsworth Care Coordination Centre is open from 7am - 10.30pm Monday - Friday and 9am - 5pm on weekends and public holidays. If you or someone you care for is living with a progressive, life-limiting illness and would like support at home, you can contact our service on for support on 0300 3000 116.
You can find out more on Trinity’s website.
April 15, 2015