Improving patients, carers, and primary care healthcare professionals' experiences of discharge communication from specialist palliative care to community settings: a qualitative interview study

The aim of this study is to understand patients’, carers’, and general practice professionals’ experiences of discharge communications from specialist palliative care. We will listen to the experiences of these groups to identify how to improve discharge communication in ways that better support patients’ and carers’ need

We will speak to 30 carers and/or patients recruited through hospices and hospitals. We will also interview 15 healthcare staff in General Practice. We will analyse these interviews to understand people’s discharge experiences and communication needs.

The need for this project was identified through patient and public involvement in our previous study exploring the content of hospice discharge letters (link).

We will co-produce a summary of best principles for discharge communication from specialist palliative care and share this with key specialist palliative care organisations and networks. We will publish the findings in academic journals and present them at conferences.

Update March 2025

Photo of some of the Research and PPI team

The slides presented at the engagement event are available below.

Compassionate Birmingham presentationLink opens in a new window

Presentation by Marie CurieLink opens in a new window

Presentation from Myton HospiceLink opens in a new window

(Please note the presentation doesn't fully showcase all Myton Hospices' services due to the
presentation time limitation at the event. )

Update January 2025

We are holding a free public engagement event in Coventry on Saturday 25th January 12-2pm about living well with a serious illness. All are welcome!

Come along to The Herbert Art Gallery & Museum, Coventry CV1 5QP to find out what free support is available in the UK from doctors, nurses and specialists.

Update October 2024

Read our published study protocol here Improving patients’, carers’ and primary care healthcare professionals’ experiences of discharge communication from specialist palliative care to community settings: a protocol for a qualitative interview studyLink opens in a new window

We are currently recruiting and interviewing patients, carers, and healthcare staff until the end of January 2025.

Funded by:	This study/project is funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) [Research for Patient Benefit (NIHR204938)]. The views expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NIHR or the Department of Health and Social Care.
Research team members:	Dr Katherine Weetman, University of Birmingham Dr John MacArtney, University of Warwick Dr Catherine Grimley, University of Warwick Dr Celia Bernstein, University of Warwick Aprella Fitch, University of Birmingham Professor Cara Bailey, University of Birmingham Professor Jeremy Dale, University of Warwick
Dates:	1st January 2024 – 31st March 2025
External Links:	This project follows on from previous hospice discharge research https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/med/research/hscience/apc/llcdyingincomm/dischargestudy/

Enquiries:

Dr Cath Grimley catherine dot grimley at warwick dot ac dot uk

Dr John MacArtney john dot macartney at warwick dot ac dot uk