Transitioning end-of-life care from hospital to the community: case report

Palliative/end-of-life care is an integral part of the district nursing service. There is increasing demand for palliative care to be delivered in the community setting. Therefore, there is a need for excellent collaboration between staff in primary and secondary care settings to achieve optimum care for patients. This article critically analyses the care delivered for a palliative patient in the hospital setting and his subsequent transition to the community setting. The importance of effective communication, holistic assessment in palliative care, advance care planning, organisational structures and the socio-cultural aspects of caring for patients at the end of life are discussed. Additionally, the article highlights the impact of substandard assessment and communication and the consequent effect on patients and families.