Ministerial visit for end of life care service
11 December, 2015
The minister responsible for end of life care has visited Hull to learn more about a new way of supporting people nearing the end of their lives.
Ben Gummer MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Care Quality, met staff today (10th) from the Macmillan Specialist Care at Home service in Hull, which helps people with cancer and other life-limiting illnesses.
The service, a partnership involving City Health Care Partnership CIC and Macmillan Cancer Support, is one of six Macmillan Specialist Care at Home locations in the UK. It sees care and treatment tailored to meet each person’s requirements and personal choices. Between April 2014 and November 2015, the Macmillan Specialist Care at Home team in Hull has seen 100% of patients being cared for in their own home and 95% of patients achieving their preferred place of death.
The day included a visit to the home of patient Dorothy Allot, who is being supported by the team.
Ben Gummer MP said: "I'm very grateful to the patients who allowed me into their home today, to see the fantastic Macmillan Specialist Care at Home service in Hull.
“The aim of end of life care is simple but complicated to deliver. That's why it has been very useful to talk about it today and see this leading pilot in action.
“My job is now to get the success of this pilot shared across the country“.
Lorraine McDonald, Macmillan Development Manager for the Hull area, said: “This has been a fantastic opportunity to showcase a service delivering tailored care and support to people at the end of their lives and their carers. In February, the independent review of choice in end of life care was published, recognising the importance of this sort of support. We are calling on the Government to fully fund recommendations from this review, ensuring that more people can have good quality end of life care.”
The Macmillan Specialist Care at Home team in Hull works in partnership with many organisations across the city. The service is led by a community-based palliative care doctor who works within a team of nurses, palliative care pharmacist and other professionals. The doctor leads the team who assess the patient’s needs and makes sure treatment and care is planned around each person’s requirements and personal choices.
Carol Waudby, Care Group Director at City Health Care Partnership CIC, said, “This service is making a huge difference to people at the end of their lives and those who care for them. It’s very gratifying to see that the Government has recognised the importance of the Specialist Care at Home service and we hope this means that more people across the country will be able to be cared for and die in the place and manner of their choosing.”
To support Macmillan’s Choice at the End of Life campaign, visit www.macmillan.org.uk/campaigns
