article_snippet.sent: In some parts of England, practice nurses have been instructed to cold-call patients and fill out an advance care plan for cold-call patients over the phone.
article_snippet.sent: Ruth Nicholls, a palliative care nurse in the South East, told how her brother-in-law, who has a heart condition, was contacted immediately after he had a hospital appointment.
article_snippet.sent: In an interview with Nursing Times, her said: 'he came back from an outpatient appointment having not had very good news and later that afternoon got a phone call from one of the practice nurses at he GP surgery. '
article_snippet.sent: This conversation was absolutely out of nowhere.
article_snippet.sent: My brother-in-law was shocked and my sister was distraught.'
article_snippet.sent: People are being left in great distress.'
article_snippet.sent: Relatives told of how Relatives gave dehydrated patients water in secret, or wet sponges for Relatives to suck on.
article_snippet.sent: One nurse described as 'horrifically worrying'.