New Marie Curie report highlights inequalities in #palliative care non-cancer patients receive

A new Marie Curie report out today reveals inequalities across the country for people needing to access non-cancer palliative care services.

Wirral Hospice St John’s supports the findings of this report and understands how difficult it can be for patients with conditions other than cancer to access the right care for them. There can be a lot of confusion about what hospice care is for, because there is an assumption that it is solely for people with cancer requiring care at the very end of their lives. Although the majority of Wirral Hospice’s patients do have cancer, it also provides care for people with a much broader range of illnesses, including heart, kidney, lung and neurological conditions.

Dr Catherine Hayle, Consultant in Palliative Medicine at Wirral Hospice, specialises in non-cancer conditions. She joined the Hospice two years ago and her role is to develop non-cancer care services, and to strengthen relationships with GPs and health teams across Wirral so that its specialist care can be accessed by anyone who needs it.

“In just two years, we have seen a huge increase in non-cancer referrals. This is really important because it is vital that people with chronic illnesses are able to access good quality care in the same way that patients with cancer can.

As well as caring for our patients in terms of physical symptom management, we also provide practical and emotional support. And crucially, we provide support to a patient’s carers and family too. By looking at the whole picture, the Hospice can help those living with serious illness to achive the best possible quality of life for them and their family.”

Dr Hayle was interviewed live on BBC Radio Merseyside this morning, scroll to 1hr 6mins to listen to the whole piece.

If you or anyone you know might benefit from hospice care, please contact your GP or visit Wirral Hospice’s website to find out more.

Author: Teresa Nightingale