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People nearing the end of their lives will benefit from better quality care, more dignity and more privacy, thanks to a £40 million Department of Health grant. Care Services Minister Phil Hope today announced the 123 hospices that will benefit from the funds.
The funds will improve care for patients and families by enhancing and equipping hospice environments, and by supporting hospices’ work with care homes and caring for people in their own homes. This could include installing specialist bathing apparatus,improving gardens to enable patients to spend time outdoors, or large scale refurbishments.
The funding was committed as part of the Department of Health’s End of Life Care Strategy to provide high quality care for all adults approaching the end of their life, launched in July 2008. The projects will begin in April 2010 and will be completed by 31 March 2011.
Care Services Minister Phil Hope said:
'Whether it’s being able to take time out in the garden or having a hoist that enables you to move with more dignity, the physical environment directly impacts on people’s care.
'This grant will help hospices care for people's physical, emotional and social needs. It will support families and carers by providing welcoming spaces that promote dignity and respect.
'We know that improving the caring environment is something that is very important to people. Today I am delighted to be able to make that a reality.
David Praill, Help the Hospices Chief Executive, said:
'Local hospices play a central role in the delivery of end of life care and we warmly welcome these new funds.
'Although hospice care is more than just a building – with many services being provided in people’s homes – the building itself gives hospice care an important physical presence in the community.
'This grant will make a huge difference to the quality of hospice environments. The funds will enhance living spaces and equip hospices with some of the practical tools to meet the wide ranging needs of people with life limiting and terminal illness and their friends and family.'
Notes to editors
Help the Hospices is the leading charity supporting hospice care throughout the UK. It represents and supports its 213 hospice members in their vital work on the front line of caring for people with life-limiting and terminal illnesses.
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