Macmillan Inpatient Beds
The current provision for Macmillan inpatients at The Balfour is changing and we fully recognise the need to get this right because of the level of concern it has caused our patients, their families, and our local community.
A number of recent patient and family complaints have really brought it home to us that we need to do something different with our current practice for the Macmillan unit.
After taking on board feedback from those who use the service and from those who deliver the care, we have implemented a new model. This new model for our bed base will ensure all our patients are consistently receiving the care they deserve.
From Monday 3 July, 16 beds on In Patients 2 (IP2) will remain as rehabilitation beds and the four remaining beds will be allocated for anyone requiring symptom control and palliative care. Symptom control refers to care given to help relieve the symptoms of a disease and the side effects caused by treatment for the disease. This can involve controlling pain, nausea, vomiting and breathlessness as well as providing emotional support. We are working to ensure the staffing levels and expertise to accompany this change are put in place.
We have already taken steps to cohort patients requiring symptom control within this bed allocation, recognising that symptom control can be required across a variety of conditions such as Heart Failure, Respiratory Disease and Motor Neurone Disease as well as Cancer. The utilisation of the four beds allocated will allow us to accommodate those patients who require symptom control and provision of palliative care. We recognise this is the first step and there are many more ahead of us to build our service.
Anne Gregg, Macmillan Specialist Nurse/ Senior Charge Nurse said: “Firstly, I would like to thank all those patients, families and carers who have given us constructive feedback on their recent experience within the Balfour Hospital. I am very grateful it is recognised that there is a requirement for a local, dedicated department with an appropriately trained team of individuals to provide the necessary care to patients requiring complex symptom control and palliative care. I hope this service will continue to evolve taking in to account the ever-increasing demand from our population”.
Sam Thomas, Director of Nursing, Midwifery, AHP’s and Acute Services said “Effective symptom management aims to provide comfort and is known to increase quality of life for both patients and families. Recent patient and family experience has highlighted the lack of co-ordinated, consistent symptom control and palliative care provision in The Balfour. In listening to staff, patients, and their families we understand the importance of getting this model of care right for all.”
We will continue to review this new model of practice and make required changes as we go, always ensuring we are doing what is right for those we care for and those who are caring for us.
Pictured are the Macmillan Team and Sam Thomas (Director of Nursing, Midwifery, AHP’s and Acute Services) outside entrance: Left to Right: Emma McGuigan, Iona Macleod, Anne Gregg, Dawn Bateman, Sam and Linzi Mowatt.