End of Life Care in Hillingdon

This service sets out the Specialist Palliative Care Services that is commissioned and provided for the adult (aged 18 and over) GP-registered population in the borough of Hillingdon, who by virtue of the operation of guidance in respect of identification of the responsible commissioner are the responsibility of NHS Hillingdon CCG. This includes residents from adjoining boroughs registered with Hillingdon GPs (within a two mile radius).

The Provider will provide Specialist Palliative Care to patients with progressive, incurable disease for whom death is foreseeable. The majority of patients will have cancer, but appropriate care will be offered to patients with al end-stage conditions, such as those with Motor Neurone Disease, Heart Failure and COPD. Where possible, care will be provided for people in their own homes.

The Provider will operate collaboratively as part of the health and care system in Hillingdon, cultivating and maintaining strong and positive relationships with relevant stakeholders and complementing the direction of travel towards an integrated care partnership. The provider will ensure that the services specified operate in a seamless and constructive way avoiding unnecessary duplication of activities, resources or capacity.

The Provider will provide the following services, which are detailed within the service specification:

• Hospice-based Inpatient Unit -provides a minimum bedded unit of 10 beds for specialist respite care, symptom control, and terminal care for those patients who cannot be supported in the community; this would include an in-reach model into acute Trusts with a particular focus on The Hillingdon Hospitals FT.
• 24 hour consultant-led phone line - a consultant staffed phone line for the use of health care staff providing support to front line clinicians to enable symptom control and
• Day care -with the Michael Sobell Hospice Charity provides day hospice services that deliver personalised outcome-based care plans for patients based on their individual needs. Providing medical and clinical consultation and care, access to a multidisciplinary team, a range of complementary therapies, arts activities, exercise in a range of settings, including hospital, in the home and hospices/palliative care centres.

The professionals who provide this care include palliative medicine consultants, palliative care nurse specialists, allied health professionals and those able to give spiritual and psychological support. The services they provide include: assessment, symptom control and involvement in treatment decisions, advice and care in all settings, coordinated home support with general providers to enable patients to stay at home, day care services, family support, bereavement support, and education and training.

Additional information: Along with 7 other CCGs in the area, NHS Hillingdon Clinical Commissioning Group is to be incorporated into a new CCG from 1st April 2021 - North West London Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG). A period of review is required from April 2021 to agree the future model of care and to identify the commissioning strategies for services across NW London for the coming year and beyond.

The existing contract is therefore being modified to extend its duration for an interim period of 7 months in order to enable this review to take place

The CCG has assessed that the service needs to continue whilst a review is completed, and new commissioning plans are developed by the newly formed North West London CCG from April 2021.

This contract modification is assessed to be proportionate and lawful under Regulation 72(1)(b)

This is an existing service that has been in place since September 2019. The CCG has assessed that the service needs to continue whilst a review is completed and new commissioning plans are developed by the newly formed North West London CCG from April 2021.

The existing contract is being modified through contract variation to extend its term by 7 months. The existing value of the contract of £1,425,000 will increase by £525,000. during this additional term.