A service offering nursing support for people living with cancer in Lichfield and Burntwood is celebrating its tenth anniversary.
The Hospice at Home service has become a vital part of the range of care services offered by St Giles Hospice since its introduction in 2002.
Last year it provided patients with more than 13,000 hours of care, allowing them to remain within the familiar and reassuring surroundings of home during the final stages of their illness, or providing much-valued respite for their carers and families.
Louise Savage, Clinical Nurse Manager for Hospice at Home, says: “Hospice at Home provides a crucial service for those who are most in need in our local community, and has made a real difference to the lives of so many people over the past decade.
“Our aim is to make sure patients are comfortable, that they have someone to listen to them and reassure them, and that their personal care needs are looked after, so they can have the dignity and quality of life they deserve.
“We also place great emphasis on providing respite for carers, who can often feel isolated because they have limited opportunities to see friends, and provide practical and emotional support as their loved one’s illness progresses.”
In May, the service received a £39,000 grant from the St James’s Place Foundation to launch a 12-month pilot scheme to bridge the gap between the day and night care service.
The evening care team will also offer support to healthcare assistants staffing the overnight service and work with district nurses to facilitate late discharges from hospital, enabling more patients to spend their final days and hours at home, if this is their wish.
