Provision of specialist palliative care support to patients and carers by telephone.
Dale T., Wee B.
The community team at Sobell House needed to find ways of managing increasing numbers of referrals. It was felt that one person exclusively undertaking telephone support would free more time for others to visit patients with the greatest need at home. The idea was viewed by some with scepticism -"palliative care by phone? How does that work then?". In December 2009 an advanced nurse practitioner was appointed on a six month trial.