End of life care service praised

DR Kershaw's Hospice at Home nursing team (from left) Lindsey Harper, Kath Crossley, Angela Hickson, Carole England, Branda Harston, Joanne Mills and Julie Hague

HEALTH watchdogs and families hailed an Oldham service which provides end-of-life care for patients.

Dr Kershaw's Hospice at Home scheme which was set up one year ago this month was extolled as an "effective" "person-centred" service by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

As the scheme reaches the end of its 12-month pilot relatives of those using the service described it as "a godsend" and offered their "wholehearted" support into the future.

Patients who receive end of life care at Dr Kershaw's are given individual support 24-hours-a-day with immediate response to crisis calls as well as access to specialist nurses.

A total of 197 patients have so far been supported to meet their wish of remaining at home in their last days rather than going into a hospice or hospital. Joint financial backing from the Stoller Charitable Trust and NHS Oldham Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) enabled the service to launch last year.

Dr Kershaw's Hospice is in the final stages of bidding for recurrent funding of the service by Oldham CCG from April.

Joanne Sloan, director of clinical services for Hospice at Home, said: "By meeting the urgent and changing needs of patients in their final days of life the service has directly reduced the number of unwanted hospital admissions and increased choice at the end of peoples' lives.

"The Hospice at Home service has allowed more individuals in the last year to have a 'good death', that is to die where they wish to, in dignity and peace, with their symptoms controlled and surrounded by those important to them.

"Patient and carer experience is overwhelmingly positive and feedback from patients, families and health care professionals has been outstanding."

Several residents sung the praises of the staff team and overall quality of care received by their family members.

Paula Bond said regarding her late father David Walker: "How can we possibly put into words our gratitude for the care and compassion that each and every one of you gave and showed to my dad and the support and strength you gave us his family.

"We will wholeheartedly support the hospice in future events in the hope that Hospice at Home continues to exist for the benefit of others."

Hope

Another resident said: "This service is a godsend to everyone in need of this type of care." A family member said: "Every nurse we met was without doubt amazing."

The pilot service also received favourable coverage by NHS Oldham CCG in their 2015/16 annual report which highlighted their hope that the scheme would help to avoid "unnecessary hospital admissions and lengthy hospital stays."

In the first six months of operating the service received 112 referrals from Macmillan, the Royal Oldham Hospital and families. Dr Ian Wilkinson, chief clinical officer of Oldham CCG, said: "It's really important that each of us can die in a manner and place of our own choosing whenever possible.

"The CCG is committed to supporting people to be able to die with dignity, pain free and in the presence of our loved ones."

The pilot was rolled out between 7am and 9.30pm, seven days a week, 365 days a year. A limited night sitting service was also provided by Marie Curie where required.

Dr Kershaw's Hospice was awarded a "good" overall rating from the CQC in their latest inspection which covers the Hospice at Home scheme.

Their report published in December 2016 said: "People using the Hospice at Home service could feel confident that their levels of pain and any associated symptoms would be assessed at all times and appropriately managed to keep them comfortable and pain free, whenever possible.

"People who supported a family member with a life limiting illness were also provided with effective support mechanisms to help them cope."

Patients must be 18 or above, live in Oldham or be registered with an Oldham GP, and be at the end of their life to be eligible for Hospice at Home.

Ms Sloan said: "The service has complimented and been an invaluable addition to existing end-of-life services in Oldham."

Contact Dr Kershaw's Hospice on 0161-624 2727.