Independent Hospices Cymru (IHC), the voice of independent hospices providing care to the people of Wales, welcomed the announcement by Minister Edwina Hart [Tuesday 28 July 2009] of the allocation of £4 million Welsh Assembly Government funding for hospices and palliative care services across Wales.
Just over half of the total, £2.1 million, will help fund the clinical palliative and end of life care services provided by 18 hospices throughout Wales and £1.9 million will be spent on NHS palliative care services.
Emma Saysell, who has just been elected Chair of the IHC and is also CEO of St David’s Foundation Hospice Care in Newport said:
“Our members are independent local charities which have to fundraise very hard for every penny, so support from the Welsh Assembly Government is vital. Some of our members have seen an increase in government funding, some have less and for some the amount has stayed the same.
Whatever the amounts given, we do, however, need to move away from annual funding towards some kind of more stable and long-term funding strategy. I look forward very much to meeting with the Implementation Board who are the expert group responsible, to see how we can work together with this aim. At the end of the day, it’s just so important that this vital care for the people of Wales can continue and develop.”
Independent hospices in Wales provide a wide range of services for adults and children living with terminal and life-limiting illnesses and their families. Care is given in people’s homes, as well as via day care and bedded wards.
Care extends beyond the patient, to supporting family and close friends. Services include pain control, symptom relief, skilled nursing care, counselling, complementary therapies, spiritual/religious support, creative activities, physiotherapy and bereavement support.
Latest figures show that demand for IHC members’ services is increasing; the number of new patients seeking support from local independent hospices has increased by more than 15% during the past four years.
“I am delighted to take up my new role at such an exciting, if challenging time,” Ms Saysell said. “A time when end of life care has become such an issue for debate and discussion and when our services are in such demand.
We are keen to work with the Welsh Assembly Government and with other health and social care providers in Wales with the aim of improving care for all. With an ageing population and more of us living longer with terminal and chronic disease, it’s an issue that wont go away and one that will become even more important in future.”
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Notes to editors:
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New Chair of IHC Emma Saysell RGN MSc
Emma Saysell is Chair of Independent Hospices Cymru and CEO/director of nursing at St David's Foundation Hospice Care. Emma began her nursing career at Velindre Hospital and joined St David's Foundation in 1994 as a clinical nurse specialist and was appointed as director of nursing in 2002. In November 2004 she was appointed to the joint role of CEO/director of nursing. Emma is a nurse representative on the Board of Monmouthshire Local Health Board (LHB), and Chair of the LHB's Audit Committee. Emma is also a former Wales representative for the National Council for Palliative Care. Emma also sits on several UK palliative care committees and is a member of the editorial board of the End of Life Care journal www.endoflifecare.co.uk
Emma is available for comment and interview on issues relating to hospice and end of life care.
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St David's Foundation Hospice Care provides free specialist care to more than 2,600 people with cancer or other life-threatening illnesses and their families in the counties of Newport, Monmouthshire, Caerphilly and Torfaen. Services are provided 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. During the financial year 2008-2009, St David’s cared for and supported a record number of patients and their families. The organisation’s four teams of community clinical nurse specialists cared for 2,869 patients and the number of ‘care hours’ provided by the Hospice at Home service reached a total of 44,121 hours of care. www.stdavidsfoundation.co.uk
Media enquiries:
Katie Brewin, Help the Hospices: 020 7520 8295 / k.brewin@helphospices.org.uk
For media enquiries about St David’s Foundation Hospice Care, please contact Helen Birtwhistle, Good Relations: 029 2034 4888 /
hbirtwhistle@goodrelations.co.uk
