We would like to say thank you to everyone who attended the event. Their thoughts and feedback will be used as evidence as we move forward to develop the future model of care.
View the recording of the meeting.
View the presentation.
Jane Wheeler (JW), Director of Local Care, NHS North West London (NW London) gave an introduction and presentation covering the development of the new model of care, the potential options for its delivery, and the decision making process.
Key points raised by attendees
- Whether charitable hospices were represented at the meeting (they were – three of four charitable hospices present from those that provide services to Brent residents).
- The involvement of social care staff in the development of the model of care to date.
- Whether catchment areas for hospices (e.g. St Luke’s) may change under the new model of care.
- The difficulties experienced in accessing palliative care due to location (e.g. south of Brent).
- A lack of awareness of locally available community-based specialist palliative care services and the long waiting lists for some services and treatments.
- Greater clarity on which hospice services cover which parts of Brent
- How we will narrow down options to reach a recommendation for the business case.
- The challenges experienced in co-ordinating care and access to services.
- Whether the model of care being proposed is affordable.
- The need to map patient choice to need.
- How we have engaged groups and individuals to understand the needs of people with protected characteristics.
- The challenge to absorb all of the information being presented, reflect and provide comments/questions
- The work being undertaken in Brent through the Brent end-of-life stakeholder group on trouble shooting, produce resources (e.g. Brent Carers Pack to support carers and patients in end-of-life care), advanced care planning care home training and education.
- The disadvantaging of some Borough residents (e.g. South Brent) in terms of access to services due to Pembridge in patient unit’s closure and concerns about Brent residents access to services (in particular hospice and advanced care beds) within the borough under the new model of care.
- Whether the population data modelling within the model of care has taken account of the aging population and population increases.
- Where end-of-life beds will be located geographically and within what kind of facilities (e.g. floor of a care home, NHS facility) and how this will effect Brent residents.
- Where staff moved to after the Pembridge in-patient unit was suspended and whether they would be available to return.
- The importance of communication between healthcare providers and patients and families. It was stated that this is sometimes lacking and what patients and families need is clear and compassionate communication about patient prognosis and available care options to inform decision making.
- The fact that patients and families can feel isolated when they are just directed to a website and a website isn’t a substitute for a skilled conversation with a health professional.