New Hospice at Home service to provide support and care

A NEW service has launched across Oldham to provide emotional support and practical care for patients who are in their last days of life.

After Dr Kershaw’s Hospice recently received substantial financial support from the Stoller Foundation, NHS Oldham Clinical Commissioning Group agreed to commission their newly designed ‘Hospice at Home’ service.

This service is designed to provide support and care to people who would prefer to die in the familiar surroundings of their own home and will be initially run as a one-year pilot.

It will be provided in partnership with Marie Curie Cancer Care and Pennine Care Foundation Trust community nursing and allied health services.

Dr Matthias Hohmann, Clinical Director for Cancer at NHS Oldham CCG, explained: “Some patients who are nearing the end of life want to be at home.

“Simple things like seeing the garden or a familiar view from the window can be very comforting. They might want to have friends, family and neighbours around or simply want more privacy.

“This new service will enable clinicians to bring care of the highest possible standard to these patients, whilst supporting carers and families.”

Lindsey Harper, senior nurse and service coordinator at Dr Kershaw’s Hospice, added: “We are delighted to lead the introduction of the ‘Hospice at Home’ service.

“Hospice care is not just about buildings or services; it is a philosophy that places the patient, family and carers at the heart of all decision-making which can make a significant difference to the way the patient receives end of life care.”

The Hospice at Home service will initially be provided to any patient registered with a GP in Oldham and will be generally free to all who access it.

Dr Hohmann added: “At the end of life, high quality care should be available equally to everyone, no matter who you are, where you live or what your condition is.

“Our new service will hopefully increase the number of families whose wishes can be met and whose loved ones are looked after in the way they have requested.”