Background The palliative care ambitions framework highlights the provision of practical support and coordinated care (National Palliative and End of Life Care Partnership. Ambitions for palliative and end of life care: A national framework for local action 2021–2026 ). Following informal patient feedback and review of the services, it was felt that introducing a telephone caseload to provide supportive welfare calls after the acute symptom management was completed would enable patients to feel better supported. This was extended to those being discharged from the in-patient unit to ensure a smooth discharge process happened with a timely call to identify any concerns in line with suggestions from Lees (Nurs Times. 2010;106(25):10–4).

Aim To complete a welfare phone call for patients discharged from the in-patient unit within 72hrs and at the end of the episode of care from the community clinical teams at 2 weeks or sooner depending upon need.

Method Patients were contacted by a trained health care assistant to provide a ‘welfare’ check. This was repeated for up to 12 weeks post end of episode of care. Patients were offered other services including Living Well and Compassionate Communities to support their wellbeing following discharge. Following discharge from the inpatient unit, the patient was contacted within 72hrs to ensure that a smooth discharge happened, and that their care needs are being met. Qualitative feedback was received from the patients at the phone call.

Results Fifty-nine patients were contacted:

• 22% patients signposted/re–referred to other hospice services.

• 41% patients discharged from the caseload with no further requirements.

• 5% reduction in advice line calls.

Estimated savings of £597.97 in 6 months with resource redirected to more appropriate roles.

Conclusion The proactive approach has led to effective support for patients following their episode of care. The plan is to continue with the service and introduce the completion of IPOS to further identify and support patient need.