Background Following a review of hospice outpatient services, an opportunity to develop a new and innovative model of care was created based on local emerging need which included:

• The provision of clinical interventions outside of a busy and pressured hospital environment.

• The need to enhance the patient experience by offering a ‘one stop shop’ as an early introduction to hospice services and ongoing flexible interventions that supported the patient’s wellbeing and lifestyle.

Aim To develop a convenient and accessible specialist palliative Clinical Outpatient service providing key clinical interventional procedures in a relaxed environment, providing a positive early holistic introduction to hospice care.

Method Offering a range of interventions (usually given in a hospital environment) from competent and compassionate hospice staff meant that this could be flexible to patients’ needs – e.g. early appointments to fit in with work commitments or at a time that wouldn’t interfere with other arrangements such as spending important quality time with friends and family. Holistic assessments enabled the outpatients service to be a gateway to the provision of a wide range of hospice support services.

Results Developing the service in this way has meant the delivery of key clinical procedures including IV iron infusions, venepuncture, CVC line care, blood product transfusions, Bisphosphonates, ascitic drainage and long term condition clinics in a calm and supportive environment, outside of the hospital setting.

Conclusion The provision of clinical interventions has increased over the last year and ongoing qualitative evaluation has highlighted a significant positive impact on patient experience as well as positive feedback from referring professional colleagues.

‘Outpatients has been so accommodating and will always find me an appointment, this takes away my worries and I can relax’

Negotiations are ongoing with the local Integrated Care Board regarding future funding for this successful and impactful model.