continuing health care, fast track, end of life

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Hi, my hubby has prostate cancer spread throughout his bones. He has said he wants to die at home. I won't be physically able to do all the manual handling this will need, as he is heavier than me, I am just over 8 stone, and 5 feet high!

When Mum and Dad had dementia, we had to pay for care calls, but I don't think there's enough left in the pot to do this again.

A friend has told me to apply for continuing health care, fast track, end of life. This apparently is different to the CHC I applied for {and was denied} for Mum and Dad. Google tells me the referral needs to be made by a clinician, but when I spoke with the hospital they had never heard of it.

I was just wondering if you can shed any light on this?

Hubby receives PIP and his pension.

Any info would be greatly appreciated.

  • Hi Summer Wine,

    Thank you for contacting Macmillan Cancer Support regards your husband. So sorry to hear this news.

    When someone makes their wishes known regards end of life arrangements, its important these wishes are respected and facilitated as far as possible.

    It may be a good idea to contact your GP to make sure they are up to speed with your husband’s condition. You can also ask for a referral to the Community Palliative Care Team.

    The Community Palliative Care Team can assess your husband’s needs and guide from there. They will aim to ensure that he is safe, comfortable, pain free and symptom free as possible.

    Caring for someone at home at the end of life can be exhausting, to the point where you may make yourself unwell. Therefore, it is also important to reach out for as much help is as available.

    Contacting your Local Authority and asking for an Adult Social Care Needs Assessment could potentially provide a package of care up to four times a day.

    This can help with personal care tasks and is designed to take some pressure off you.

    We have further  information on being cared for at home and looking after yourself as a carer as well as emotional support for carers here.

    NHS Continuing Healthcare provision and Palliative Care provision can cause some confusion. Age UK have a useful fact sheet on this which is worth having a look at.

    However, if a person is reaching end of life then a Continuing Healthcare Fast Track Assessment may be required to be completed by a healthcare professional. Marie Curie also have good information on End of Life Services which may be useful going forward.

    Hope this information is useful.

     

    With best wishes

     

    David T – Macmillan

     

    Cancer Information Nurse Specialist 

     

    You can also speak with the Macmillan Support Line team of experts. Phone free on 0808 808 0000 (7 days a week, 8am-8pm) or email us. 

     

    REF/PN  

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