Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement: Case Studies
Read about recent projects where patient, carer and public involvement has improved and informed our work.
Nutrition Quality Improvement Project
The Nutrition Quality Improvement Project aims to standardise nutritional care across Sobell House Hospice and Katharine House Hospice, ensuring that the food and drinks provided meet both clinical needs and individual preferences. This will involve redesigning our menus and testing new nutrition assessment tools. Additionally, we aim to improve nutrition outcomes in palliative care for specific conditions such as bowel obstruction and swallowing difficulties, while also raising staff awareness about the critical role of nutrition.
Our PPIE contributors reviewed the nutrition principles for palliative care and provided feedback on the patient survey aimed at assessing preferences and satisfaction with menu and kitchen options. Their involvement had a very positive impact. It sparked discussions on additional aspects of the overall project, leading to four improvements in both the survey and the nutrition principles.
The Project Lead said “It was eye-opening to realise the power of perspective. We often become focused on our professional viewpoint and overlook certain options or perspectives from the patient’s or families’ side.”
Home Hospice Services Feedback
As more people choose to be cared for in their own home at the end of their lives, the Home Hospice services, co-funded by Sobell House Hospice Charity and Macmillan Cancer Support with support from Social Finance, help to meet this need.
Four interlinked services have been set up to enhance the quality of care for patients with a life-limiting condition in Oxfordshire and South Northamptonshire.
We held a productive PPIE discussion in November 2024 with four participants about the Home Hospice services. We presented the service designs and engaged in a thoughtful exchange of ideas. The design was well-received, with strong support for its patient-centred approach. Our PPIE contributors provided valuable feedback, including suggesting further exploration around provisions for obtaining medicines, mental health support for family members, and ensuring 24/7 access. These insights will help us refine the service to better meet the needs of our patients.
Want to get involved?
The palliative care department supports patients, carers and members of the public to get involved in palliative care research, service development, and education efforts. This ensures that current and future research and services best meet the needs of our patients and carers.
We are very grateful to the members of our Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE) Pool for their impactful work. Please apply to join us if you would like to share your thoughts.
