Case study:

06 June 2006

Working with palliative care to assess and develop training at Princes Court

Key points

A four month-pilot study, which involved placing a Marie Curie registered nurse in a dual registered care home (nursing and personal care) to work alongside staff as a role model, has led to significant improvements in end of life care

The Princes Court initiative, which built upon earlier advances in palliative care within the 22-bed care home in North Tyneside, involved the nurses observing current practice, identifying training needs and implementing change.

Staff also completed a learning portfolio.

The result has been increased use of end of life pathways, implementation of a training plan, greater use of syringe drivers and the introduction of a new handover sheet.

There has also been ‘an increase in compliments and a reduction in complaints’.

The challenge now is securing funding to appoint a two-day a week outreach worker on a permanent basis with the hope of cascading the learning to other care homes in North Tyneside PCT.

A number of other PCTs have already expressed interest in developing a similar role in their patch.