Extended palliative care for Islanders

​Jersey Hospice Care is to expand its services to help more Islanders who need the specialist care and support they can provide for end-of-life care.

 

From later this year, the charity will be able to provide care for any Islander who requires end-of-life care, through the services of a specialist palliative care team. Traditionally, Hospice worked only with patients who needed palliative care for cancer, or Motor Neurone Disease. 

 

The Health and Social Services Department (HSSD) has given £810,000 in funding in 2014 to enable more specialist staff to work with those who require end-of-life care in Jersey, followed by a further £883,000 in 2015, as part of the work the department is undertaking to transform health and social care services for Islanders. 

The funding means that Hospice staff can deliver their services not only at Jersey Hospice’s newly-expanded site at Mont Cochon, but also throughout the Island, in people’s homes and at the General Hospital.

The new specialist palliative care team will deliver Island-wide support, care, advice and symptom control across Jersey for patients with any life-limiting progressive diseases and/or conditions with specific palliative care needs, eg respiratory, heart or renal failure. 

The team will be made up of:

Chief Executive for Jersey Hospice Care, Steve Harvey, said “The decision to extend our remit in this way was based on the clear evidence of the benefit to patients and their families. It also ensures equitable palliative care for all, regardless of diagnosis. 

"Jersey Hospice Care will also be creating a 'Hospice at Home' team which, in close collaboration with all other service areas of the Hospice, will help to support the care of people in their own homes in partnership with the community nursing services.

 

“We are very pleased to be able to offer the services of our highly-skilled staff to more patients and families at what is an important and sensitive time in a patient’s life. Jersey Hospice Care trustees have decided to undertake this specialist palliative care provision in partnership with HSSD."

 

Following consultation at ministerial level, Jersey Hospice Care was identified as ideal for providing specialist palliative care and to lead in the partnership, working with other organisations to guarantee an integrated service for patients and their families.

 

Deputy Anne Pryke, Minister for Health and Social Services, said “Each person must be treated as an individual, with respect, dignity and compassion, as they near the end of their life. 

"As a former nurse, I spent 20 years at Jersey Hospice Care mainly working as a home care sister in the community, so I know first-hand the importance of a loved one being able to experience this. People, wherever possible, should be able to have a good end to their lives, surrounded by their family and friends, in familiar surroundings.

 

“We know that through their expertise in this area, our colleagues at Hospice will be able to help even more families whose loved ones require palliative care, and be there when they are needed most. Good palliative care is an essential and required service and one which is held in high regard by my department.

"I and my team at HSSD recognise the need to be able to provide a unique blend of medical support and emotional support as someone nears the end of their life.”​​