Publication
INTRODUCTION OF A PERINATAL PALLIATIVE CLINICAL NURSE SPECIALIST ROLE ENHANCING PARTNERSHIP WORKING BETWEEN PALLIATIVE CARE AND PERINATAL SERVICES-ONE YEAR ON
Summers S, Anderson A, Linford H, Lewin-Taylor T, Pringle A · Archives of Disease in Childhood · 2024
Objectives Support such as referral to perinatal palliative care and access to hospice services may promote well-being of families of babies diagnosed with life-limiting conditions.1 2 A children's hospice-based perinatal palliative clinical nurse specialist (PPCNS), based within a specialist paediatric palliative care team, has been recruited to: Develop closer working relationships between perinatal and paediatric palliative care teams, clarify referral criteria and support referrals to the specialist team and hospice. Increase perinatal teams' knowledge of paediatric palliative care and how to access support. Support development of frameworks for perinatal palliative care ensuring delivery of evidence-based care across the region. Methods Starting in November 2022, the PPCNS attended a regional fetal medicine meeting and ward rounds in two neonatal intensive care units on a weekly basis, raising awareness among perinatal teams of services available to families from palliative care teams and identifying babies potentially benefitting from referral. There was medical representation at the meetings from the specialist palliative care team twice a month and meetings between the specialist and perinatal teams. Education was provided to medical, nursing, midwifery and allied health professionals via hospital-based teaching, hospice-based study days and shadowing opportunities. A perinatal palliative pathway was developed for the region in conjunction with perinatal professionals. Results 1 year from commencement of CNS role: Postnatal referrals to palliative care increased (figure 1). Discussion between perinatal professionals and the PPCNS occurred for a further 37 patients to date, raising the profile of palliative services. Barriers were identified to antenatal referral including professionals' views that referral would result in parents giving up hope or that it was 'too early' to refer to palliative services. Education sessions (7 to date) were delivered by the PPCNS and other hospice healthcare professionals to a total of 115 nursing, midwifery and allied health professionals and 50 medical professionals. Evaluation of a hospice-based study day yielded average satisfaction scoring of between 4 - 4.8 out of 5 for each session. In a process involving feedback from hospice and external professionals, referral criteria were clarified and regional perinatal pathway developed. Positive feedback was received from perinatal teams about the impact of perinatal palliative CNS role: professionals stated they valued close working between perinatal and palliative teams and had increased awareness of what could be offered to babies and families Conclusion The PPCNS role was positively evaluated by perinatal professionals and led to an increase in postnatal referrals to palliative services and awareness among professionals of what palliative services can offer. Further work continues to build on what has been achieved so far and address barriers to antenatal referral.
Synced from the TRENDS in Pediatric Palliative Care Zotero library, curated by The Siden Research Team. ICPCN does not host or verify the full text.