The Gastroenterology nursing team have spent the past 6 years trying to develop a day case service for patients who have decompensated liver disease who require ascitic drainage due to end stage liver failure. These patients require draining on a regular basis, which becomes more frequent as the disease progresses (which can be as frequent as every ten days).

Currently these patients are admitted and can be in hospital for three days or longer and they can be waiting for admission to hospital for longer than 10 days. Which is totally unacceptable especially for palliative patients, as drainage is for symptom control and patient comfort. This service will enable these patients to be admitted as a day case for the procedure and only require them to be in hospital for a period of six to seven hours. This will allow patients which may be at the end of their lives to spend minimal time in hospital and more time with their families. This will also free up acute beds on the ward and reduce waiting times for other service users. It will also have a huge beneficial impact on the patient’s journey. The future goal is to also extend this service to oncology patients that require drains due to metastatic disease.
The necessary protocols, training and resources have been passed and agreed by the trust.

Your kind donations will help us raise funds purchase equipment and furniture to make the service we aim to provide more efficient and increase patient comfort.