Christmas Tales from the Frontline

What crisis

“You want the Crisis team,” says the call handler.

“This woman is in a critical state and is likely to pass within the next 48 hours. I have administered pain relief and arranged for a syringe driver, but it is essential to secure crisis care immediately. She is currently in the upstairs bedroom, and her daughter is the only person available to help care for her, including turning her. Prompt assistance is critical.”

“The problem is the crisis team has no capacity,” says the lady.

Hmm, sounds familiar, I think to myself.

“So, what you mean is when there is a crisis, there is no crisis team available,” I say.

I can’t help but think that the crisis team needs a name change.

“Yes, unfortunately,” comes the reply.

When community and social care disappear, end-of-life care quietly defaults to hospital care. People don’t end up in A&E because they want to be there; they end up there because no one is available at home when things go wrong at two in the morning. The evidence backs this up. National…