Read our Palliative Care Report
Palliative care plays a vital role in supporting people living with life-limiting illness and those important to them. In Trafford, services are delivered across a range of NHS, community, hospice and voluntary sector providers within the wider Greater Manchester health and care system.
Healthwatch Trafford undertook this project as part of its statutory role to represent the views of people using health and social care services, and to influence service improvement. The project seeks to understand the experiences of patients and carers accessing palliative care locally. While national policy sets out clear ambitions for coordinated, person-centred care, it is important to assess how these ambitions translate into practice within Trafford.
Healthwatch Trafford recommends that:
- A named or single point of contact is introduced for patients receiving palliative care in Trafford, particularly those supported at home, to improve coordination and reduce duplication.
- Communication pathways between community nursing, primary care, hospices and care homes are reviewed to strengthen information sharing and reduce delays.
- A clear and accessible information pack is developed and provided early in the palliative care pathway, outlining available services, how to access support, out-of-hours contacts, and financial or practical assistance.
- Community and night-time palliative care provision is reviewed to ensure timely and equitable access across Trafford, including consideration of workforce capacity.
- Support for carers is strengthened through routine offers of emotional support, clearer information about respite options, and signposting to bereavement services.
- Earlier and more consistent Advance Care Planning conversations are encouraged to ensure patients’ documented wishes are shared appropriately across services.
You can find out more by reading our full report on the link below.
