Case study:

11 May 2010

Specialist palliative care nurse support for care homes in Sunderland

Key points

Sunderland Teaching PCT has appointed a specialist palliative care nurse to provide training and support for staff in care homes across the city.

The appointment follows a similar initiative by the Northern Cancer Network for district nurses in the area.

It was felt that if district nurses were receiving this training, then nurses in care homes should too.

The specialist nurse will aim to:

Be a specialist resource for residents, families and staffProvide pain and symptom managementOffer emotional support to residents and their familiesInfluence palliative care management at all levelsProvide palliative care and end of life care training to staff

There have been some challenges along the way, including shortages of equipment, a constrained training budget and a lack of commitment from some private homes.