Hospice rapid access service

The Hospice Rapid Access Service (RADS) is a way to meet your palliative and end of life care needs as your condition progresses. 

This care is being coordinated by your local hospice, which will vary depending on where you live: 

  • Southend, Castle Point and Rochford – Fair Havens.
  • Basildon, Brentwood and Thurrock – St Luke’s Hospice.
  • Mid Essex – Farleigh Hospice.

Why am I being referred to this service? 

The professionals involved in your care now believe that your condition is deteriorating and that you need more support to help you live comfortably until the end of your life. 

The hospices can offer you fair access to palliative and end of life care, support and advice in a care environment suitable for your needs. The hospices will work to coordinate your care and support you, and this will involve working in partnership with other care providers, which may include carers in your own home or care staff within a care home. 

Where will I be cared for?

The hospice rapid access service can provide care in three different settings: 

  1. A hospice.
  2. Your home or the home of someone involved in your care, like a family member.
  3. A care home identified by the hospices as being suitable for your specific needs. 

What will my care consist of? 

The team will complete an assessment and speak with you about a plan that meets your care needs. 

If your care is being delivered to you at home this will consist of a ‘package of care’ which involves carers coming in to provide personal care to you at home. The frequency of visits from the carers will be discussed with you. 

The hospice will arrange the carers and oversee their care and support to make sure that it continues to meet your needs as and when they change. We will undertake a review of your plan of care at certain points in discussion with you and your loved ones. 

If you are being discharged from hospital into a care home for access to 24-hour care, we will work with the hospital team and in discussion with you and your family to find a care home that is able to provide the care to meet your assessed needs. 

We understand that you and your family will want to be involved in choosing the care home, and the hospice team will work with you to discuss the available places of care. Nurses at the hospice can still provide support to you in discussion with the care staff at the home. 

If you are being transferred to a hospice you will be admitted there during Monday to Friday. On admission to the hospice, the nurses and medical staff will talk to you and your loved ones and agree on a plan of care to meet your assessed needs. 

Do I need to pay for this care? 

No, the care provided is free of charge, either in the hospice, in your home or in a care home. If you wish to access other services that are outside your assessed need, there may be an additional charge, such as hairdressing services. 

However, the hospices providing your care are independent charities and donations are gratefully accepted. 

Can I pay a top-up to the care package offered? 

No, unfortunately, this option is not available through this service however families can negotiate directly with the care home. 

Housing

There are several support services that you can be referred into if you have difficulties with housing.

Southend City Council — contact the Housing Solutions team at  housingsolutionsteam@southend.gov.uk or call 01702 215002.

Essex Floating Support Service - contact the Peabody support service at efsco-ordinator@peabody.org.uk or call 0800 288 8883. They can help with homelessness and housing issues, benefits entitlements and financial issues.

Whilst the Integrated Discharge Team (IDT) can refer you to support services, we are unable to offer housing solutions and you cannot remain in hospital pending housing being sourced.

Please let the ward team know upon admission if you are experiencing difficulties so that appropriate referrals can be made at the earliest opportunity. IDT can assist in completing “Duty to Refer” forms to the relevant housing team.

Contact us (RADS)

You can speak to the Rapid Access to Discharge (RADS) team at:

How can I raise a concern? 

If you are being cared for in a hospice or in your home, please contact the hospice teams on the contact numbers above.

If you are still unsatisfied and wish to make a complaint, they can advise on the best route, depending on the hospice coordinating your care. If you have a safeguarding concern, you can either contact the hospice or contact social care directly on: 

Southend adults — call 01702 215 008.

Southend children — call 01702 215 007.

Essex — call 0345 603 7630.

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