QC 16pp A4 Winter Newsletter 2023 v9 WEB (1) - Flipbook - Page 3
Updates from #teamqueenscourt
Queenscourt Virtual Ward
Following several months of planning, the launch of the
Queenscourt Virtual Ward pilot took place at the beginning of
July 2023 across West Lancashire, Southport and Formby.
The aim of the Queenscourt Virtual ward is to provide an alternative to
hospital or hospice inpatient admission. It delivers this by providing a
same day assessment and a brief intensive specialist palliative care
intervention for patients in crisis or with complex needs, aiming to meet
the clinical needs of the person whilst respecting their choice to receive
care at home or in a care home.
Although it is early days of mobilisation there is a clear demand for
Queenscourt Virtual Ward beds. The Queenscourt Virtual Ward
enables a same day holistic assessment by a Palliative Care Doctor or
highly skilled Clinical Nurse Specialist, leading to the development of a
personal tailored management plan. The Queenscourt Virtual ward is
able to respond quickly to rapidly changing clinical situations and then
step-down patients from the Virtual Ward back to Specialist Palliative
Care community services within an average of 3-4 days, preventing
unnecessary admissions to hospital.
Alongside the Queenscourt Virtual Ward pilot, an out of hours
telephone advice line for patients and families is planned with the aim
of improving support for patients and
those important to them. We hope to
launch a pilot of the advice line in
Winter 2023 with a view to rolling
out the initiative 24/7 early next
year. The advice line will be
sta昀昀ed by our growing team of
experienced Inpatient Unit Ward Sisters.
This innovative Virtual Ward project is a collaboration between
Queenscourt Hospice and Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated
Care Board. The pilot will run for 12 months, during which time we
hope to demonstrate positive impact on patient care that will secure
long-term funding across West Lancashire, Southport and Formby.
Ongoing provision of our Virtual Ward
will ensure #teamqueenscourt
can continue to provide exceptional
compassionate care for patients
at the end of life, through excellent
clinical service delivery in Queenscourt,
in hospital and for those in their
own homes.
Developing Doctors of the Future
Queenscourt is committed to empowering future generations of
doctors to provide excellent end of life care throughout
their careers.
Every six months, 2 doctors join our medical team at Queenscourt
as part of their post-graduate rotational training to become General
Practitioners. By working alongside experienced
palliative care professionals, and participating
in education and quality improvement projects,
they gain the skills knowledge and con昀椀dence to
care throughout their future careers, for patients
approaching the end of the lives.
Queenscourt also provides clinical placements for 30-40 medical
students from the University of Liverpool Medical School each year.
During a three-week placement they spend time with patients, families
and our sta昀昀 in Queenscourt. They are introduced to the hospice and
specialist palliative care services, and learn the skills they will need to
care for patients once they qualify as doctors. In September we are
looking forward to supporting the 昀椀rst cohort of medical students from
Edge Hill University, who will also be joining us at Queenscourt for
their Palliative Care Placement. We hope to show our students what
excellent end of life care can look like, and maybe even inspire some
of them to consider a career in Palliative Medicine!
Join our Housekeeping Team!
Queenscourt Hospice is currently looking for more people to join our friendly Housekeeping Team.
Keeping the hospice clean and tidy is essential to creating a welcoming and pleasant environment for
patients and their families.
Your role will bring you into contact with so many people who are working for and being supported
by #teamqueenscourt.
Without our Housekeeping Team, we couldn’t deliver our exceptional palliative care and support for patients
and their families when they need us the most.
If you’re interested in becoming part of our Housekeeping Team, please contact our HR Team on
01704 544645 (option 7) or email recruitment@queenscourt.org.uk
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