Marie Curie recognised for support to end of life care programme

The importance of high quality palliative or end of life care is increasingly important as the population in Northern Ireland continues to age. According to NISRA, the number of people growing older (85 years and above) is increasing almost six times faster than those under 85 years*. 

As part of the transformation of the health and social care service, the Health and Social Care Board and the Public Health Agency, with other partners have been working with Marie Curie Northern Ireland on an inter-agency approach to ensure the development of best practice in palliative and end of life care.  

The terminal illness charity was thanked for their support as co-sponsors of the Palliative Care in Partnership programme at an event in Belfast. The programme is about ensuring a whole system approach to palliative care from services available in the community, nursing and residential homes, through to hospitals and hospice care.

Valerie Watts, Chief Executive of the Health and Social Care Board and Public Health Agency spoke at the event and said, “It’s important that we have systems in place to ensure that people at the end of life are supported and have the best quality of life, until they die. However, palliative and end of life care is not just about supporting the individual, but also the family. This partnership with Marie Curie Northern Ireland has set us on an important path to delivering services to meet the future needs of our population. The Marie Curie team ensured that we heard, understood and took account of things that mattered to people.”

Eamon O’Kane, Divisional General Manager, Marie Curie NI & Scotland added, “Marie Curie is delighted to have been working in partnership with the Health & Social Care Board and Public Health Agency for the last 6 years on the sponsorship and development of this project.  The partnership has been a key enabler in the progression of a palliative care action plan for Northern Ireland and has informed the way in which care is provided. Importantly, it has changed the experience for people at end of life and their families. 

“We know that working in partnership is key to ensuring those who need care can access it when and where they need it.  The last 6 years has set a solid foundation for the future of palliative and end of life care in NI and I’m confident that the great work will continue.”

Although the current phase of the sponsorship arrangement has now come to an end, the Health and Social Care Board and the Public Health Agency recognised the expertise and support provided by Marie Curie Northern Ireland, in enabling the improvement of end of life care in NI.

Ends 

*https://www.nisra.gov.uk/sites/nisra.gov.uk/files/publications/85AndOver-Bulletin2016.pdf