Michael Matheson MSP launches new £1 million pilot service for terminally ill Fife residents

Minister for Public Health Michael Matheson MSP has launched a £1 million two year pilot service at an announcement at Dean Park Hotel, Kirkcaldy on Thursday 20 February 2014.

The Marie Curie Fife Service, in partnership with NHS Fife will deliver tailored care and support at home for terminally ill Fife residents and their families. It aims to support up to 240 patients a year to complement existing services and initiatives in the area, meeting the needs of patients and carers in their own home from its 1 April 2014 start date.

For the first time in Scotland Marie Curie is asking for Fife residents to help deliver part of the service themselves by signing up to become a Marie Curie Helper Volunteer. Volunteers visit patients for a few hours a week to offer practical help at home as well as emotional support.

The new service unveiled by Michael Matheson MSP will be coordinated with a locally based team, through a single point of contact. It will offer a range of support in a home setting, tailored to individual need, providing:

• Short and long periods of nursing care for patients and support for carers.
• Health and personal care, emotional support and practical assistance following a patient’s immediate discharge from hospital, and additional support to prevent hospital admissions or readmissions.
• Companionship, emotional support and practical information provided by trained volunteers.

Diana Hekerem, Divisional Business and Service Development Manager, Marie Curie said: “Building on existing services in Fife and working closely with care providers we’ll be able to offer carers and patients with a terminal illness the choice to receive high quality care at home, where they tell us they most want to be. It’s about delivering care at the right place and right time.”

Minister for Public Health Michael Matheson said: “I am delighted to officially launch the new Marie Curie Fife Service, as it is a great example of the partnership approach to delivering health and support services that we want to see right across Scotland.

“By working together with patients I believe that Marie Curie and NHS Fife will be better placed to provide all the care and support that patients need at what can be an extremely difficult time. Partnerships like this are central to our vision of ensuring that by 2020 everyone is able to live longer healthier lives at home, or in a homely setting.”

NHS Fife Public Health/Palliative Care Services Manager Karen Nolan said: “We see delivering care at home where best for the patient as a key priority, as set out in our Service Delivery Plan. Building on our fantastic work in the community, this new service will see Fife leading the way in high quality community-based palliative and end of life care.”

The £1million funding for the pilot has been provided by Marie Curie and the OAK Foundation. Funding covers an evaluation of the two year pilot and recruitment of 20 new staff comprising; a senior nurse, health and personal care assistants, a Helper service manager and support team, supported by existing Marie Curie staff.

To find out more about becoming a Marie Curie Helper contact 0845 073 8697 or email fifeservice@mariecurie.org.uk

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