Table 1 Site characteristics for model A and model B
Characteristics | Model A- RRS | Model B- RRS |
|---|---|---|
First Port of Call Protocol | Patients/Caregivers are to contact DN’s in first instance as service gatekeeper Should they not answer/be able to respond and/or is crisis are able to directly contact RRS | Patients/Caregivers are to contact DN’s in first instance as service gatekeeper Should they not answer/be able to respond and/or is crisis are able to directly contact RRS |
Days/Hours of Service | 12 h a day/7 days a week | 24 h a day/7 days a week |
Situation | Out of hours service adjunct to planned day service | In and out of hours holistic service |
Serves | Patients already in acute palliative service. Patients on palliative register in one locale | Patients and caregivers in need at the end-of-life in one GP locale |
Staffed | One specialist palliative care nurse from planned service covers on rota | One specialist palliative care nurse and one senior health care assistant always available |
Referrals | From planned service, from GP or DN, self-referral feasible but not advertised | From GP or DN, self-referral is feasible, and leaflets left in local surgeries |