In Patient care

Rapid Response Hospice at Home

Rapid Response Hospice at Home provides care and support including patient assessment, supportive “hands on nursing care” for senior health care assistants, family and carer support and collaboration with other primary care health and social care providers.

Unlike visiting services provided by other community services, Rapid Response Hospice at Home offers extended periods of care in the patient’s home. It is also available on the same day it has been requested. It has the support of the wider hospice services and in-patient units if needed. Members of the team are often confused with Macmillan nurses which is incorrect.

The service offers nursing care to those previously accepted for Pilgrims services who meet the referral criteria. The service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, completely free of charge.

Referral criteria

Referral criteria are the same as those for other Pilgrims services. Referrals could be made because:

End of life support is needed
The patient is experiencing uncontrolled symptoms
The illness suddenly gets much worse
A carer is in a crisis and needs support

Referrals may be initiated by:

GPs
Community nurses
Hospital palliative care teams
Hospital ward staff
Intermediate care teams
Out of hours services
Care managers
Pilgrims Hospices community team
Pilgrims Hospices ward staff
Allied health professionals

When a patient is referred to Rapid Response Hospice at Home, an assessment will be made to see if the service is appropriate before contact is made with a patient or their carer.

Location

Care and support is provided in patients’ homes within the east Kent catchment area of Pilgrims Hospices. This includes nursing and residential care homes, prisons and relatives’ homes.

Next steps

Download our Rapid Response Hospice at Home leaflet

Referral form

Please download a referral form and fax to 01227 812606, or scan and email it to hospiceathome@pilgrimshospices.org.

Download the Rapid Response Hospice at Home referral form

Understanding the service

These visual flow charts may help you to understand the service.

Download Referral process for Rapid Response Hospice at Home service
Download Out of hours referrals for Rapid Response Hospice at Home
Download Rapid Response Hospice at Home referral pathway
Download Rapid Response Hospice at Home pathway outcome

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