Priority 9 from the Palliative and end of life care PSP

UNCERTAINTY:  What are the best ways to make sure there is continuity for patients at the end of life, in terms of the staff that they have contact with, and does this improve quality of palliative care?  Would having a designated case coordinator improve this process?  (JLA PSP Priority 9)
Overall ranking 9
JLA question ID 0026/9
Evidence

None identified

Health Research Classification System category  Generic
Extra information provided by this PSP
Original uncertainty examples Who is responsible for coordinating all the different types of care NHS/hospice/ community/social services/therapy occupational/speech and language services?  In my experience there is little coordination which leads to distress for patient and carer and vital delays in response and treatment.  ~  My experience of caring for a terminally husband was overall that the health and care services worked well but I was concerned about the number of health professionals that could be involved eg OT in hospital and community, physio in hospital and from hospice.  All excellent but one point of call would be so helpful - can we organise care so that there is a key worker to help people through this maze?  ~  Is it possible to have palliative clinical nurse specialists in GP surgeries to co-ordinate the care support and treatment of palliative patients?
Submitted by Professionals x 5  ~  Bereaved carers x 1  ~  Members of the Public x 1  ~  Patients x 2
Outcomes to be measured Patient Satisfaction; health related quality of life; health related cost; good death
PSP information
PSP unique ID 0026
PSP name Palliative and end of life care
Total number of uncertainties identified by this PSP. 83  (To see a full list of all uncertainties identified, please see the detailed spreadsheet held on the JLA website)
Date of priority setting workshop 21 November 2014