Case study:

11 March 2008

Developing a first class integrated complementary therapy service for cancer and palliative care in Walsall

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Key points

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Patients with palliative care needs and their carers are receiving free complementary therapy thanks to an innovative scheme that operates across Walsall.

The service is available to patients at any stage of their journey, whether they are an inpatient waiting to go to theatre, someone attending chemotherapy or a housebound patient at the end of their life.

It is also offered in a range of settings, including wards, hospices, village centres or the home.

Now fully integrated across both acute and primary care trusts, the service has come a long way since it was first set up in 1993 as a single-handed practice offering a limited service to cancer patients in the community.

In 2003 it was extended to all cancer patients in the borough of Walsall and the following year to their carers.

Finally, in 2005, it was widened to include all those with palliative care conditions.

It employs five complementary therapists together with back-up staff and voluntary therapists and offers a range of therapies including reflexology, aromatherapy and massage.

It also has a fully-equipped complementary therapy suite.

All staff can attend monthly clinical supervision sessions.

Volunteers have to be registered practitioners but also receive a programme of specialist training in cancer and palliative care.

The service, which is funded by the New Deal for Communities, is popular with patients because it allows them greater participation in their treatment.

They also see complementary therapy as a means of improving their quality of life and controlling their symptoms.

It reaches a wide cross-section of the community in terms of both age and socio-economic group.

The team is also very sensitive to minority needs.

Several therapists in the team have British Sign Language skills for people with hearing impairments while a multilingual therapist and outreach worker focus on ethnic minority groups.

The expansion of the service to all those with palliative care needs has inevitably increased demand and led to longer waiting times for consultation.

As a result the team has re-examined its referral criteria and readjusted priorities.

One problem was scepticism among some clinicians, who were reluctant to refer patients to the service.

In response members of the team attended GP training days and local and national conferences as well as offering taster sessions.

At the same time supportive palliative care consultants spread the word.

And consultants and GPs are always informed when a patient is receiving treatment.

The result is that the number of referrals has risen significantly.

The service is also looking to the future.It will, for example, provide in-reach and outpatient services for Walsall’s new palliative care centre/hospice, which is expected to open in 2009.

There are also plans for a new complementary therapy suite to be included in Walsall’s new acute hospital when it opens in 2010.

And following patient requests the team is considering adding acupuncture to the therapies it offers.

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