These case studies contain examples of how our work impacts on the lives of local people.  To protect patient confidentiality the names and some details have been changed.

Case Study One: A devoted couple who were finding it difficult to cope

Mr and Mrs Somers live in Daventry and each has a number of medical conditions.  Both are in their mid-eighties and have lived in their current home for twenty-five years.  Mr Somers is his wife’s sole carer and he has found this role more difficult recently as his own health has deteriorated and Mrs Somers has become increasingly confused.

Until recently, the couple were happy to live independently with support from community nursing services.  However, in the last few months Mr Somers has begun to talk to friends about leaving their home because he no longer feels able to cope.

Mr and Mrs Somers have an ongoing arrangement for the local chemist to deliver their medication.  During one of these recent visits, the pharmacist noticed part opened boxes of tablets lying around including three packs of Mrs Somers’ latest medication – all opened and with pills missing.  On discussing this with Mr Somers it became clear that the couple had not been taking their medication regularly or safely. 

The pharmacist was sufficiently worried that she contacted the Practice Manager at the Somers’ local surgery.  The GP saw them both and concluded that Mrs Somers’ confusion was being made worse by the irregularity with which she was taking her medication.  The GP made the decision to admit her to the Pro Active Care (PAC) scheme.

Once this decision was made, the practice PAC team swung into action.  The GP and nursing staff at the practice met and assessed Mrs Somers’ case at their next weekly meeting and arranged for a review of all the medication she was taking. 

After the review it was decided that a Community Matron should make regular visits to support the couple and Mr Somers has been provided with dated medication boxes so that he can be certain which drugs to give his wife and when.

These simple interventions have turned things around for the Somers’ and we recently heard that Mrs Somers has been discharged from PAC – with an assessment that she is very unlikely to need to be re-admitted in the future.