Adult protection cases in a hospice: an audit
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/14668203200500008 |
| Date | 01 August 2005 |
| Published date | 01 August 2005 |
| Pages | 4-12 |
| Author | Malcolm Payne |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Sociology |
4©Pavilion Publishing (Brighton) Limited The Journal of Adult Protection Volume 7 Issue 2 • August 2005
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Introduction
This paper reports an audit of all cases referred by staff as
potentially raising adult protection issues in a large hospice
serving a socially and ethnically diverse area of south London
during the year 2004. It also identifies issues arising from the
introduction of a new adult protection policy and the first
year’s work. Raising awareness of adult protection in palliative
caresettings may be important, since Cohen (2003) argues
that it may be one of the outcomes of the emotional isolation
of dying patients. Fisher (2003) recently argued that this is an
‘invisible’ issue in palliative carebecause it is generally
assumed that families arecaring and supportive at the time of
death. However, Fulmer et al (1999), in an American study,
argued that day care settings, common in palliative care, may
be an important source of support and a place for disclosure of
abuse in other settings. So raising adult protection issues may
go against the present culture in palliative care, but help to
protect patients.
Context
Founded by Dame Cicely Saunders in 1967, St Christopher’s
Hospice was the first modern hospice, and now provides a
comprehensive palliative careservice to an ethnically and
socially diverse area in south London. Over 1800 people each
year arecared for in its 48-bedded Hospice, and in people’s
homes through a home care service. It is a registered charity
with a service level agreement for the provision of specialist
palliative care with a consortium of five local primary care
trusts. Services include:
nin-patient medical and nursing careled by consultant
physicians and nurses
Adult protection cases in a
hospice: an audit Malcolm Payne
Emeritus Professor,Manchester Metropolitan
University and Director,Psycho-social and
Spiritual Care, St Christopher’s Hospice, London
Research paper
key words
palliative care
end of life care
dangerous drugs
hospice
vulnerable adults
local authorities
abstract
An audit of the 12 adult
protection cases arising in a south
London hospice during 2004 is
reported, including case studies
illustrating issues arising and
information about the introduction
of a new policy and procedure
following
No Secrets
guidance
(Home Office/Department of Health,
2000). Introducing reporting to local
authority social services and adult
protection co-ordination raised
various issues.
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