Rapid Response Service Models in End of Life Care
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Rapid Response Service Models in End of Life Care: What Works for Whom and in what Circumstances?
IRAS ID
299204
Contact name
Amanda Clarke
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Northumbria at Newcastle
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 11 months, 31 days
Research summary
When people reach the end of their lives, it’s important that they can be where they want to be; for many, this will be home, with friends and family. To make this possible, the services delivering end-of-life care must be available at a time and place when patients and families need support. We need to understand better what people need at the end of their lives, when they need it and how health and social services can support them. Patients are particularly vulnerable at the end-of-life and, when they need help, they need it to be quick and accessible. We will explore how teams called Rapid Response Services work; services which support people at the end-of-life in their own homes. We will compare two different Rapid Response Services to find out how each helps patients and families (carers), how they work with other community teams, what the impacts of Covid-19 have been, and the costs of each service for the NHS. We will ask staff involved in delivering care how the service supports people and, importantly, we will ask carers and patients about their views and experiences of using the service, whether it has made a difference to them and, if so, in what way. We will undertake focus groups and interviews with staff from each service, with health and social care staff who work alongside them and service commissioners. We will undertake interviews with carers whilst they are using the service and again, following the death of their family member and also interview patients who use one of the Rapid Response Services. Throughout, we will involve people who have experienced the services and/or who have a life-limiting illness to guide us. Findings should help us to understand better how to develop Rapid Response Services to support patients and their carers during Covid-19 and beyond.
REC name
North West - Haydock Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
21/NW/0256
Date of REC Opinion
24 Sep 2021
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion