Hospice home service secure

FUNDING delight . . . nurses and health care assistants, from left, Carole England, Adele Doherty (practice development), Joanne Sloan (director clinical services), Susan Mear, Assumpta Rabbitt, Brenda Harston, Linda Algar and Linda Waine

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THE future of a vital end-of-life hospice service has been secured after a funding pledge of more than £276,000.

Dr Kershaw's "extremely successful" Hospice at Home scheme will continue thanks to renewed support from NHS Oldham Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG).

Celebrations are in full swing at the hospice on hearing that £276,795 will be handed over every year from April 1.

A total of 197 patients have received care through Hospice at Home since the 12-month pilot was launched in February, 2016.

Through 24-hour-a-day support and immediate response to crisis calls the service helps residents meet their wish of remaining at home rather than going into a hospice or hospital.

Hospice at Home co-ordinator Lindsey Harper said: "We are absolutely delighted to have secured the funding for our service to continue. Sadly when it comes to dying we have only one chance to "get it right" and it is an honour and a privilege to be able to provide that extra support and care to our patients and their families in their own homes when they need it most.

"We have forged excellent working relationships with other community services, namely the district nursing service and the Macmillan nurses and we are now able to give people more choice when it comes to end of life care."

Relatives of those accessing Hospice at Home described it as "a godsend" and offered their "wholehearted" support into the future.

The service was also hailed by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in its last inspection who rated Dr Kershaw's as "good."

Director of clinical services Joanne Sloan said: "Over the past 12 months the Hospice at Home service has been able to demonstrate a significant reduction in crisis admissions to hospital, alleviate stress for patients and their loved ones and ultimately support patients to die peacefully in their own homes when this is their preferred place."

The 12-month pilot was rolled out between 7.30am and 9pm, seven days a week. A limited night sitting service was also provided by Marie Curie where required.

Funding for the pilot came from both Oldham CCG and the Stoller Charitable Trust.

Chairman Sir Norman Stoller said: "We were very pleased to support this worthwhile cause in its pilot year.

"It is fantastic news that Oldham CCG has committed to continue fully funding such a vital service."

Renewed funding will enable patients aged 18 or above who live in Oldham or are registered with an Oldham GP, to access the end-of-life care.

The number of visits, timing and length of stay is flexible and determined by the needs of individual patients.

Chief Clinical Officer and lead clinician for end of life care at NHS Oldham CCG Dr Ian Wilkinson said: "It is always our aim to support people to die in their preferred place of care.

"The CCG recognises the excellence of care and compassion offered through Dr Kershaw's Hospice at Home service and the overwhelmingly positive feedback from patients, carers and clinicians alike, all of which is borne out in the CQC's findings."

He added: "Hospice at Home is something that is appreciated and highly regarded by those entering the final stages of terminal illness."

Chair of board of directors at Dr Kershaw's Vernon Cressey said: "The hospice is absolutely delighted and grateful to the CCG for giving recurrent funding to enable the pilot scheme to continue.

"Delivering the pilot has been a real team effort and I am very proud of the team and what they have achieved in a very short space of time."

He added: "The hospice is most appreciative of the support given by the CCG and Sir Norman Stoller and his trust for providing the initial funding to enable the pilot scheme to take place. At the time it was a challenge and a risk but well worthwhile."