PPF56 Palliative care support assistants – developing and integrating a new role into a hospital palliative care workforce

<h3>Background</h3> Airedale NHS Foundation Trust hospital palliative care team undertook an evaluation of the service following the National Audit of Care at the End of Life (NACEL) in 2018/2019 and bereaved relative surveys. Key areas for improvement were identified including support for families/carers at the time of death and families not having enough opportunity to ask questions. <h3>Methods</h3> A grant was sought to fund the introduction of two 0.6 WTE palliative care support assistants (band 4) to provide a 7-day service to include: Review all patients on a Last Days of Life care plan, regardless of symptom burden or specialist palliative needs. <h3>Supporting and advocating for families</h3> Addressing practical needs with parking passes, recliner chairs for families, comfort bags and refreshments. <h3>Mouth care and comfort obs</h3> <h3>Providing bereavement calls</h3> <h3>Results</h3> Subsequent data collection for NACEL showed an overall improvement in care after their introduction. Communication with the dying person 4.7 to 8.6 Communication with families and others 4.8 to 7.5 Need of families and others 3.3 to 6.1 Latest figures from 2024-2025 continue to show improved end of life care; 222 patients were supported by the palliative care support assistance, representing 51% of all patients that had a Last Days of Life care plan. Other successes include the introduction of end-of-life family refreshment trollies, the removal of foam mouth sponges for palliative care patients and overwhelming positive feedback from both patients, carers and staff. <h3>Conclusion</h3> In 2023, 44% of deaths in West Yorkshire were still happening in hospital. The introduction of this role has broadened and enriched the skills mix within the palliative care team. It has improved the support offered to patients and families and frees up time for nursing and medical staff. This role is a cost-efficient way of improving palliative care across the hospital.