Evaluation of the Midhurst Palliative Care Service

Conducted by: Professor Nigel King (project lead on the qualitative research), Jane Melvin, Dr Joanna Brooks and Alison Bravington

Project leader: Dr Bill Noble (University of Sheffield)
January 2009 - December 2011

Co-researchers and affiliations: University of Sheffield

Funding: Macmillan Cancer Support

The Midhurst Macmillan Specialist Palliative Care Service was set up to provide palliative care as a community service after the closure of the former hospital-based provision. A key aim of the service is to provide care for people who wish to remain at home, whilst keeping available other options of care where needed. The Midhurst Service is staffed by a team of specialist professionals alongside a large team of volunteers, and is particularly notable for its provision of clinical interventions and treatments, usually considered to require hospital admission, within the patient’s home environment.

The Centre for Applied Psychological Research led on the qualitative arm of this evaluation, incorporating the novel Pictor interview technique developed at the University of Huddersfield. The research activity included conducting interviews with patients, informal caregivers, Midhurst staff and staff from other health and social care services who are also involved in patient care, aiming to explore participants experiences and perceptions of the Midhurst service.

The final report includes an overall description of the service provided, as well as a more detailed exploration of the experiences of those using, delivering and referring to the service and context of care. Highlighting the ways in which the Midhurst team successfully collaborates with other professionals, and with patients and carers, to provide care highly rated by all parties; the research identifies some of the special features which enable Midhurst to provide this innovative service.

A video is also available featuring Professor Nigel King discussing the findings of this research.