PPF69 One cardiothoracic transplant team’s feedback on the introduction of palliative care at transplant assessment

<h3>Background</h3> Patients who are being assessed for transplant have severe organ failure and often live with severe symptoms which can hugely impact their quality of life. Transplant surgery is high risk, so not all those who are assessed will be listed for transplantation, while others will die on the waiting list or in the acute post-operative phase. In August 2022, the Supportive and Palliative Care Team in Royal Papworth Hospital began seeing all patients who were being assessed for heart or lung transplant as a routine part of their assessment process. <h3>Method</h3> Since beginning this initiative, we wanted to gain feedback from the transplant team on what they thought of the service, what was working well and what could be improved. About a year after the service began, an online survey containing 5 questions was devised and sent to around 50 healthcare professionals in the transplant team. <h3>Results</h3> 12 respondents: 4 doctors, 6 nurses and 2 Coordinators. 1. ‘How has the meeting with palliative care helped patients during their transplant assessment?’ Over 80% said introducing the concept of palliative care, along with building rapport and aiding conversations around deteriorating health and over 60% said signposting to other services, allowing patients to voice their feelings and that it was useful for family members. 2. ‘What is going well?’ There was a variety of responses, including that early palliative care involvement reduces anxiety about our involvement later in the patient’s journey. We asked what could be done to improve and had 4 responses of ‘nothing’, along with some helpful suggestions about more MDT attendance and the possibility of a leaflet. <h3>Conclusion</h3> Palliative care involvement in the transplant assessment process has received positive feedback from the transplant team, with a recognition that early involvement is helpful for supporting patients and for forward planning.