Inverclyde Community Integrated Palliative Outcome Scale

Ardgowan Hospice

Partner organisations: Inverclyde Health and Social Care Partnership, University of the West of Scotland

Many people with palliative conditions in the community have unidentified needs. A recent study showed community patients tended to have their physical needs met, but communication needs with health care professionals were unmet.

Other studies have shown that psychosocial and spiritual needs of palliative patients and their families are not identified as they are reluctant to raise these issues in primary care.

If these needs cannot be met in the community by the primary care team, then identification of these specialist needs and referral on to specialist palliative care services is likely to be beneficial.

This project tested the use of a patient-reported outcomes measurement tool - the Integrated Palliative Outcome Scale (IPOS) - to improve the understanding and assessment of palliative care needs of patients in the community by the primary care teams.

Using this tool, improved the support people received in primary care, to have their needs identified, interventions offered and outcomes monitored in an evidence-based way and, if required, be referred to a Supportive Care Clinic staffed by specialist clinicians from Ardgowan Hospice.

The project was supported by grant funding from the ihub's Improvement Fund in 2016-2017.

 

  • What was the approach?
  • What was the impact?
  • What was the learning?
  • What are the next steps?