Argyll and Bute to benefit from new end of life care services

A new programme of services and projects has been launched in Argyll and Bute to improve the delivery of palliative and end of life care, to ensure people receive the care they want and need, in the place of their choice.

The Argyll and Bute Delivering Choice Programme (DCP) has been developed by leading end-of-life care charity Marie Curie Cancer Care in partnership with Argyll and Bute Community Health Partnership (CHP) through the Reshaping Care for Older People (RCOP) strategy, and other local partners.

As part of the DCP, the following services and initiatives will be rolled out across Argyll and Bute:

• A new model of Marie Curie palliative care nursing service, providing a mix of short and long visits to patients’ homes during the day, evening and overnight.
• Improvements to carers’ information and training, through working with Macmillan and carer organisations to enhance the information available on palliative and end-of-life care.
• A series of events and roadshows for communities raising awareness of death, dying and bereavement and the support and care available through local services.
• Supporting palliative care in care homes, other community settings and in the home, developing a framework of best practice, including improved networks for those delivering generalist and specialist palliative care and guidance on using remote rural transport for patients. 

There are more than 800 people with a palliative care and end of life care need in Argyll and Bute. However, the task of meeting these needs for a population based in remote rural areas poses a number of significant challenges. By focusing on delivering patient-centred end-of-life care, the Argyll and Bute DCP will inform the debate around meeting the end of life care needs of remote communities across Scotland, providing examples of best practice.

The three phase programme started in August 2012 with a high level needs analysis of palliative care provision in Argyll and Bute. Stakeholder workshops were subsequently held to identifying options for improving palliative care in the region. The services and initiatives announced today mark the start of Phase 3, and are funded for up to a period of two years.

Jennifer Layden, Project Manager for the Argyll and Bute Delivering Choice Programme said: “The programme is taking a big picture view of the way that palliative and end-of-life care is delivered in Argyll and Bute. Using this approach, we have been able to focus on developing local and sustainable solutions that address issues and barriers across the entire system of service delivery for end of life care. We know, for example, that carers can feel isolated or lack support or knowledge of palliative care issues. As a result, we are developing a carer’s training module specifically covering end of life care issues, which will be delivered along with local carer organisations.”

Launching the programme at an event held today in Loch Fyne Hotel in Inverary, Michael Russell, MSP for Argyll and Bute, said: “With so many communities based in remote rural areas, it is vital that the end of life care needs for Argyll and Bute are developed and delivered to meet the specific needs of those communities. This programme will make a huge difference to those patients and families with a palliative care need. It’s an excellent example of local care providers working together to create local sustainable solutions to address challenging problems in the design and delivery of effective healthcare.”

Michael Matheson MSP, Minister for Public Health for Argyll and Bute DCP launch said: “The work being taken forward by Marie Curie Cancer Care, Argyll and Bute Community Health Partnership and local independent and third sector partners is an excellent example of partnership working at its best.

"Through the Argyll and Bute Delivering Choice Programme, high quality palliative and end of life care will be delivered to address the needs of the local community. These services will provide care with empathy and dignity that meet the individual needs of every patient, in the place of their choice, wherever this is possible. I am sure that the care provided through these services will provide vital support for both patients and their families at what can be a very difficult and traumatic time. I am confident that these services will also offer important support for the local community.

"I am very pleased that through working together, this initiative will help meet the challenge of ensuring that people with such illnesses receive the best possible care."

Pat Tyrrell Lead Nurse for Argyll and Bute said that “Argyll and Bute Health and Social Care services are committed to working with communities, independent and third sector organisations to improve services for people with both palliative and end of life care needs. The Delivering Choice Programme will help us to deliver high quality care services for individuals and carers in their place of choice.”

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