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Lack of staff

Posted By sculptorjm56

"Lack of staff"

About: Forth Valley Community Services / Palliative Care Forth Valley Royal Hospital / Palliative Care

(as a friend),

I am currently watching a family I am close to going through the most dreadful life event.

A family friend has a terminal diagnosis, they are in their 50s . Whilst this is not unique, the lack of resources available in NHS Forth valley has been totally unacceptable.

I actually would not believe it if I wasn’t living it. They are currently bed blocking in an acute ward I dread to think the cost. They are not able to be discharged as cannot be assessed due to staff shortages. They cannot be helped with basic care at times because of staff shortages on the ward. Their home cannot be assessed because of staff shortages in community also. They are not sick enough to have palliative care involvement as again the service has been scaled back so much. Meantime precious limited time is passing and the unacceptable has become acceptable.

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Responses

Response from Morven Kellett, Lead MacMillan Palliative Care Nurse Specialist, Palliative Care Team, NHS Forth Valley 4 hours ago
Morven Kellett
Lead MacMillan Palliative Care Nurse Specialist, Palliative Care Team,
NHS Forth Valley

Submitted on 07/07/2025 at 17:13
Published on Care Opinion at 17:22

Firstly I would like to thank you for contacting the care opinion and posting your concerns at what sounds like a difficult time for both you and your friend. I hope to be able to answer some of your concerns and explain the role of the Palliative Care Team in Forth Valley Royal Hospital.

The Palliative Care Team consists of clinical nurses specialists and part-time medical cover and are based within Forth Valley Royal Hospital. They provide support and advice to all areas including all wards, A&E and the outlying community hospitals within Forth Valley Health Board. Many patients within the hospital may have general palliative care needs that are being met by the ward areas and may not require the services of the specialist palliative care team who are mainly involved in more complex palliative issues of concern including pain and symptoms.

The team review patients with both cancer and other non-malignant life limiting conditions across the hospital and endeavour to provide specialist support to staff, patients and their loved ones for as long as is necessary for each patient. We work alongside other services in their assessments of patients aiming home and link in with community teams where appropriate to help enable patients to be in their chosen place of care where possible.

If your friends are requiring any support or advice in regard to any issues raised then this can be discussed with the ward team and addressed directly with either the carer support team or ourselves.

I hope that this helps in explaining the role of the specialist palliative care team in Forth Valley and its outlying hospitals.

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