Support given to a patient to get speedy access to the care they need
Through our information and signposting service, we supported one patient with a terminal diagnosis to get speedy access to the services he needed.
After a call from a local voluntary sector organisation, Pallion Action Group, stating that they were supporting a local resident with a terminal diagnosis who needed appropriate support, we acted immediately. We called one of our contacts, an End of Life Care Facilitator / Specialist Nurse in Palliative Care, working in South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust to highlight the patients situation.
What difference did this make
As a result of our contact with the relevant professional, a End of Life Care Facilitator / Specialist Nurse in Palliative Care was able to contact the patient and arrange a comprehensive package of support, which included them seeing their GP that same day, be visited by a district nurse at home and also referred the patient to the Community Specialist Palliative Care Team. This ensured the patient had all the relevant care and support they needed at a critical time.
The patient fed back that he is so pleased he has the correct help to support him through this difficult time, and as a result is now feeling more confident and secure in the knowledge that he is able to access all of the appropriate support he needs for his health and wellbeing.
Karen, Manager at Pallion Action Group said;
“Thank you to Healthwatch for the help they have given to our client. My staff and I are now confident that he is getting the correct support. We know that when we call Healthwatch for help, they are there for us and the people in our community and always go the extra mile to make sure they do the best they can.”
