The 'End of Life Care' Strategy (EOLC) was published by the Department of Health on 16th July 2008.
The profile of End of Life Care has been raised by the publication of the Strategy, but that is not enough.
"Sustained leadership and drive will be needed nationally and locally to ensure that appropriate actions are taken at each step in the End of Life Care Pathway... and across all settings."
The Earl Mountbatten Hospice welcomes this publication having been a beacon of excellence for palliative care on the Island and having championed the cause for many years.
The Island's Primary Care Trust is in the process of putting together the local strategy of how the vison will be implemented on the Island.
Among the key planks of the Government's strategy is:
- the provision of choice for a patient of where to die
- 24/7 care
- the implementation of the Care Pathway
- better education for everyone involved with patients and their relatives
The Earl Mountbatten Hospice has been
- providing palliative care education to health professionals on the Island
- through the Hospice In-Patient Ward, Day-Care unit and Hospice@Home team already provides patient choice
- The Hospice@Home team and In-Patient Ward already provide 24/7 care.
We await the next stage of the PCT local strategy with interest and look forward to continuing to provide excellent care to patients and their relatives.
