Most palliative and end of life care is provided by the ward doctors and nurses led by the consultant in charge of the patient’s care and or general practitioners and community teams.
We aim to deliver care in line with nationally recognised priorities for care of the dying person:
- The possibility that the person is dying is recognised and communicated clearly, decisions are made and actions taken in accordance with the person’s needs and wishes, and these are regularly reviewed and decisions revised accordingly.
- Sensitive communication takes place between staff and the dying person, and those identified as important to them.
- The dying person, and those identified as important to them, are involved in decisions about treatment and care to the extent that the dying person wants.
- The needs of families and others identified as important to the dying person are actively explored, respected and met as far as possible.
- An individual plan of care, which includes food and drink, symptom control and psychological, social and spiritual support, is agreed, coordinated and delivered with compassion
Our Swan Model provides a standard to support and guide staff in delivering high quality care that is tailored to the individual and those important to them.
The Swan model of care is about providing excellent, individualised end of life and bereavement care for every patient and every family, every time.
It is patient and family focussed and centres on meeting the unique needs of each individual and their loved one.
We are committed to providing high quality, personalised care at end of life. Alongside Swan Model we deliver regular palliative and end of life care teaching to all grades of staff.
The people providing your care should ask you about your wishes and preferences and take these into account as they work with you to plan your care.
They should also support your family, carers or other people who are important to you. Please speak to the doctors and teams caring for you and or your loved one about your wishes.
You have the right to express your wishes about where you would like to receive care. We will aim to support your care wishes and support you receive end of life care at home, in a care home, hospice or be cared for in hospital, depending on your needs and preference.
People who are approaching the end of their life are entitled to high-quality care, wherever they're being cared for. Find out what to expect from end of life care.
We have a number of teams and services to help support this can be nurses, doctors, allied health professionals, swan end of life and life and bereavement care team, members of the hospital discharge team and Chaplaincy team.
For patients and families with more complex palliative and end of life care needs, the community and ward teams can refer to the Trinity Hospice Specialist Palliative Care Team who will work with them.
We encourage patients to discuss any specific needs and support they may have with our ward and community teams and including chaplaincy support. Colleagues do their upmost to support individual needs and promote comfort at end of life.
You can expect to have open visiting, free parking and be cared for by our ward team.
If you are visiting one of our wards or departments and see the SWAN symbol (see right) displayed, please be mindful of maintaining a quiet and peaceful environment wherever possible.
Memory making is important we provide memory boxes for families and can offer keepsakes such as holding hearts, handprints, hairlocks. Please talk to the team about this.
