Introduction Healthier Wigan, is a partnership between the local NHS and council, alongside GPs, voluntary organisations, and community groups. In April 2022 the partnership commenced a pilot to develop and implement a Single Point of Access for all adult palliative care referrals across the borough. WHISPAR (Wigan Healthier partnership Integrated Specialist Palliative Care Active Response).

Aim Ensure the right support by the right people at the right time.

• Reduce the need for completion of multiple referrals.

• Deliver effective, co–ordinated and responsive palliative care services over seven days.

• Support rapid discharge to Preferred Place of Care/Death (PPC/PPD).

• Prevent inappropriate hospital admissions.

Method Key to the success of WHISPAR, is mutually respectful working relationships between all partner organisations, using a collaborative approach. There are quarterly operational meetings. Daily meetings with representation from all palliative and end of life care services in the borough to review referrals, allocate services and prioritise response. Also, discussion of hospital admissions and discharges to support achieving PPC/PPD.

Results

• 1288 referrals April 2022– April 2023–– Average 107/month

• 1961 referrals April 2023–2024 Average 163/month

• 588 referrals April 2024– June 2024– Average 193/month

• 3837– total number of referrals April 2024– June 2024

• Allocations to services based on need with identified priority of response, 338 patients allocated more than one service.

• Increase in allocation of patients meeting service criteria.

• Improved response times based on triaged needs.

• Increase in number of rapid discharges.

• Reduction of inappropriate hospital admissions.

• Increase in achievement of PPC/PPD.

• Positive working relationships.

Results Next steps Explore why some patients decline allocated services. Improve patient information.

Information and education of referrers to improve referrals and support allocation.

Conclusions WHISPAR- Single Point of Access is successful because of effective partnership working across the health economy. It has ensured that adults with palliative and end of life care needs and those important to them receive the right support by the right people at the right time.