Compassionate care for all: consultation opens on community specialist palliative care services in north west London

Published on: Wednesday 20 November 2024

Have your say on the future of specialist community palliative care for north west London Residents*

Public consultation 18 November 2024 to 24 February 2025

NHS North West London is inviting the public to share their views on proposed improvements to adult community specialist palliative care services across the region. These proposals are part of a commitment to provide compassionate, high-quality support for residents facing serious or life-limiting illnesses.

Robyn Doran, Senior Responsible Officer for the review, said:

"Our goal is to offer the best possible care when patients, families, and friends need it most. Compassionate care means supporting people through the challenges of life-limiting illnesses, helping them live as fully as possible, with dignity and relief from pain and symptoms."

The consultation focuses on creating a community specialist palliative care service that ensures equal access to quality care—whether at home, in the community, or at a hospice. This means every adult in north west London will have access to specialised, round-the-clock care and support when they are at their most vulnerable.

Proposed key improvements

The proposals aim to address a wide range of needs, including:

  • A specialist palliative care nursing team available 12 hours a day, 7 days a week, across all boroughs.
  • 24/7 telephone support for specialist palliative care advice for all North West London residents.
  • “Hospice at Home” services available around the clock.
  • Specialist palliative care outpatient clinics in each borough.
  • Improved access to psychological and bereavement support for families at local hospices.
  • Expanded lymphoedema services for conditions related to both cancer and non-cancer causes. Lymphoedema is a long-term condition where a build-up of lymph fluid in your body's soft tissues causes swelling.
  • 46 new enhanced end-of-life care beds across the region, providing additional options for those whose needs cannot be met at home but do not require hospice-level inpatient care.
  • Maintaining 57 consultant-led hospice specialist palliative care inpatient beds that are currently available, which our analysis shows will meet community needs over the next five years.

Dr Lyndsey Williams, Local GP and Clinical Lead for the review, said:

"This is about ensuring everyone has access to high-quality care, no matter where they live in North West London.  We want to hear from residents to make sure these services meet the real needs of our community."

Options under consultation

The consultation presents two options:

Option A (Preferred): Fully implement the proposed model, including 46 new enhanced end-of-life care beds, while maintaining the existing hospice beds without reopening the Pembridge Hospice inpatient beds. This option would be easier and quicker to implement and benefit more north west London residents as a whole.

Option B: Fully implement the proposed model, including 46 new enhanced end-of-life care beds and reopen Pembridge Hospice inpatient beds. This would require a reduction in hospice beds elsewhere and have a longer implementation timeline due to the need to recruit specialist palliative care consultant cover and 35 additional staff.

Have your say

Rob Hurd, Chief Executive of NHS North West London added:

"We are committed to putting residents’ voices at the heart of these changes. Your feedback will help us shape a service that supports the dignity, comfort, and quality of life of everyone in our community."

To learn more and participate in the consultation, visit the NHS North West London website: www.nwlondonicb.nhs.uk/cspc

Notes to editors

For further information email nhsnwl.media@nhs.net

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