Experiences implementing a 6-month pilot of a 7-day community CNS service in an urban hospice in Scotland

Patients and carers may face challenges in the out-of-hours period, with inadequate support and variations in service provision, including access to specialist palliative care. A pilot was undertaken to extend availability of the community clinical nurse specialist (CNS) team to include weekends and public holidays.

To examine the need for a 7-day community CNS service.

Activity data was collected for 6 months and feedback was sought from service users and the CNS team.

There were 132 out-of-hours telephone contacts in the 6-month period, generating 35 home visits. Almost two thirds of these calls were proactive, 'planned' contacts. Most unplanned calls (68%) were from a carer for advice about symptom management and support as the patient's condition changed.

The pilot demonstrated the need for a CNS service 7 days a week, and the service is now embedded in practice. Seven-day working benefits patients and families while being valued by the professional team.