Springhill Hospice at home – going the extra mile

Springhill Hospice at Home

For over 22 years now, Springhill Hospice has provided quality palliative and end of life care to patients and families within our local community. With a 16 bed in-patient unit, and a 16 patient Day Hospice service, the services of the Hospice are far reaching. However, from 11 June 2012 the services of Springhill Hospice are expanding with a 12 month pilot scheme for Hospice at Home.

Sheila Johnson, Director of Clinical Services, said: “The services we offer at Springhill Hospice are absolutely fantastic, but quite often patients say that they wish that they could have the services that we offer at Springhill but in their own home. This exciting new service development will enable more patients, and their families, to have a choice about their care at the end of their life.”

The Hospice at Home service is designed to work alongside, and in addition to, the current services provided by the District Nurse team, Home Care providers and the Macmillan Nurses, to provide an additional level of support to patients at the end of life.

The main aim of the service is to ensure that more patients will be cared for in their preferred place of care at the end of their life, which will reduce unnecessary hospital admissions.

Ms Johnson continued: “All too often, people choose to stay at home, but for one reason or another end up being rushed into hospital. Hospice at Home will hopefully reduce any unnecessary hospital admissions, and enable a peaceful and dignified care package.”

In addition to support during the day, Hospice at Home Plus, which Springhill Hospice will be providing in partnership with RMBC Adult Services, will also offer additional support (where appropriate and where capacity in the service allows) in the form of a night sitting service.

On Friday 1 June at 2.00pm Springhill Hospice will be hosting an open afternoon to launch this exciting new service, with a presentation explaining how the new service will supplement existing services and the opportunity to answer any questions.

If you would like to attend the open day, or if you have any questions about this new service, please contact Sheila Johnson:

sheila.johnson@springhillhospice.nhs.uk

01706 649920