What to do in a Crisis?

What to do in a Crisis?

  • Before contacting anyone – refer to your personal care plan as this will give the phone numbers you need and advice regarding any symptoms you may have
  • During weekdays in office hours – contact your own District Nurse (8am - 5pm) or GP (8am - 6pm)
  • Outside office hours - during weekends and in the evening, you will need to contact the on call District Nurses, the on call GP or the hospices for advice
  • Most things can be dealt with by the district nurses who, if they feel it is necessary, can then ask for a doctor to visit
  • Your District Nurse and GP may send a ‘handover’ form to the Out of Hours Doctors Service. The information provided by your GP and District Nurse will assist the Drs and nurses at the Out of Hours service to make the right decisions for your care. When a ‘palliative care handover form’ has been sent for a patient with priority needs then there may be access to a priority number for advice
  • When requesting advice or a visit be very clear when on the telephone and give the following information:
    • Your name and the patients name
    • The patients date of birth – this is very useful for enabling access to special notes or computer records
    • The diagnosis
    • Address
    • What is the current problem and the condition of the patient
    • Listen to the operator and try to answer their questions clearly
    • If you do not understand what to do ask for further information
  • Telephone advice can be sought from the nurses on the ward at the hospices but they may advise that an assessment by a District Nurse or GP is sought. The community nurse specialists do not work outside office hours
  • Visiting professionals can ask for advice from palliative care specialists who are available 24 hours a day if symptoms are complex