Hospice care at home

HELP at home . . . Dr Kershaw’s launches its Hospice at Home Service. From left, sister Lindsey Harper, sister Kay O’Neill, Dr Paul Cook and Dr Matthias Hohmann

VITAL hospice care will soon be available for patients at home.

The Dr Kershaw’s Hospice “Hospice at Home” service will give patients access to specialised nursing care and emotional support at home during their final stages of life. Patients will be given individual support 24 hours a day, with immediate response to crisis calls.

It is hoped the service will be launched later this year as part of a year-long pilot scheme following funding from the Stoller Charitable Trust and NHS Oldham Clinical Commissioning Group.

Dr Matthias Hohmann, clinical director for cancer at NHS Oldham CCG, said: “We know many patients prefer the familiar surroundings of their own home in the last weeks of their life. The Hospice at Home project will enable this to happen for more patients, giving them access to the best quality care and providing more choice about where this happens.”

The Royton hospice will work with existing community services, and it is hoped the move will help to avoid unnecessary hospital admissions and lengthy hospital stays.

Norman Stoller, chairman of the Stoller Charitable Trust, said he is pleased his trust is able to provide money for the pilot project.

“The hospice is to be congratulated on developing the pilot scheme and my Trust wishes it every success,” he said.

A service co-ordinator and manager has been appointed and is currently discussing operations with with the district nursing teams and the other agencies involved.