title: Experiences implementing a 6-month pilot of a 7-day community CNS service in an urban hospice in Scotland.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  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.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To examine the need for a 7-day community CNS service.
  
  
  METHODS
  Activity data was collected for 6 months and feedback was sought from service users and the CNS team.
  
  
  RESULTS
  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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.
authors.affiliation: The Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice, 71 Carlton Place, Glasgow G5 9TD. libby.milton@ppwh.org.uk
authors.forename: Audra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cook
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Grady
authors.forename: Libby
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Milton
mesh_terms: D003152:Community Health Nursing / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004630:Emergencies; D017051:Hospice Care / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009551:Night Care / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012606:Scotland; D013997:Time Factors; D019037:Urban Health Services / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*