Specialist care home role sees improved care for Barnsley residents
Care home residents in Barnsley reaching the end of life are receiving more personalised care with the help of a new specialist role aimed at meeting their preferences and wishes.
The advanced specialist practitioner post, funded by Macmillan Cancer Support and hosted by South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, is occupied by former Macmillan Nurse and end of life practice educator Katie Yockney.
With Katie’s input, 95% of residents supported within Barnsley care homes died in their preferred place of death between 1 March 2019 to 29 February 2020.
88% of the residents supported had an emergency care plan created. Emergency care plans support decision making in and out of hours for professionals who may be called for advice or when a visit is requested.
100% of the residents supported had up-to-date information about their preferences and plans for care documented in a format that can be shared among different healthcare providers.
Closely working with local care homes, neighbourhood teams, GPs and hospital colleagues, Katie offers people personalised care plans which also guide care home staff and other health care professionals.
The specialist knowledge that Katie brings aims to increase the confidence of care home staff when caring for residents with palliative care needs, and reassure and comfort residents and their families.
Katie Yockney commented: “The project has been about seeing the person, giving them (and those important to them) a voice and a choice so we know what matters to them, as well as how and where they would like to be cared for now and in the future.”
Lisa Spivey, Macmillan Partnership Manager for Yorkshire, said: “The experience that people have at the end of their lives can have a lasting effect on friends and family left behind.
“This vital work in Barnsley is not only listening to the patient’s wishes but helping reassure their loved ones at a very difficult time.
“At Macmillan we want to be there for everyone living with cancer; this evaluation shows that Macmillan funding, working in partnership with the NHS, is making a real difference to people in Barnsley.”
View an infographic showing the benefits of Katie’s work.
