PPF45 Service evaluation of acute hospital complementary therapy for the holistic support of in-patients known to the hospital palliative care team

<h3></h3> Complementary therapy in a hospital out-patients, hospice or tertiary referral setting in palliative care is well described. Our service is set apart as it is based in the busy location of an acute hospital inpatient setting, as a part of the liaison work and holistic care provided by hospital palliative care team. This makes it rare, if not unique. The challenges of delivering complementary therapy in this setting are equally specific but the rewards to holistic patient care are great and we would welcome the opportunity to describe this at PCC. Not part of mainstream NHS and acute hospital work, funding and governance requirements for this project have therefore borne a rich 3-way collaboration between the acute trust (Shrewsbury and Telford NHS Trust), the local hospice (Severn Hospice) and local cancer charity (Lingen Davies). The three-organisation collaboration, have come together to provide an acute hospital inpatient palliative care complementary therapy service funded for 3 years. 1 year of data, both qualitative and quantitative, has now been collected and can be presented. The information will include: - Details on acceptance among hospital clinicians - Numbers of patients treated/supported (300+) - Breadth of therapies offered (inc. aromatherapy, massage, reiki, reflexology) - Case stories and quotes to demonstrate deep benefits specific to the acute hospital setting including - Pain, nausea and constipation improvement - emotional and spiritual wellbeing - time to talk - signposting to other services - improved acceptance of onwards hospice referral - Consideration of the conundrum of how to gain feedback in a patient centred way, to describe and evaluate the service, without undoing the good work of the therapy. In conclusion, despite the challenges of delivering complementary therapy to palliative care in-patients in an acute hospital setting, the acceptance and benefits to wellbeing make this service invaluable.