| Contact | Beverley Chapman, Clinical Lead Nurse of Dementia, Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust |
| beverley.chapman@ciospct.cornwall.nhs.uk | |
| Website | https://www.cornwallfoundationtrust.nhs.uk |
| Address | Porthpean Rd, St Austell, Cornwall, PL26 6AD |
What is being done?
Partnership working in Cornwall between the acute environment and care homes is improving end of life care for people living with dementia, enabling them to die in their place of choice.
A research project was established to understand the nature of admissions to hospital for people with dementia.
Key areas for scrutiny included:
- Source of referral i.e. A&E or via GP
- Involvement of GP prior to admission
- Hour of admission
- Reason for admission/diagnosis
- Length of stay
- Place of discharge (final outcome)
- Alternative treatment options
- Cost implications around end of life care and admissions
What difference this seems to be making
Outcomes include:
- All GPs and 7 care homes signed up to the End of Life Care dementia pilot
- Over 300 patients treated according to their best interest plans
- Relatives feedback positive
- People dying in own care home and less admissions before death