25 January 2012
Keech Hospice Care has welcomed research from the Cicely Saunders Institute, published in the journal Palliative Medicine, which reveals that there has been a slow but steady increase in the number of people dying in their own home.
As the local children’s hospice for Hertfordshire, Milton Keynes and Bedfordshire, and adult hospice for Luton and south Bedfordshire, the hospice wants more people in its community to understand the role that Keech plays in supporting local people to be cared for and die in the place of their choice.
Mike Keel, Keech Hospice Care’s chief executive, explains: 'We want the very best care for everyone facing the end of their life. Supporting people so that they can be cared for and die in the place of their choice is key.
'What people don’t realise is that people cared for by their local hospice are more likely to die in their own home if they choose. We want to continue to grow our hospice at home service and help families when their loved one chooses this option.
'Keech’s care improves people’s quality of life before they die. Our care is very flexible and personalised and tailored to the needs and wishes of the individual and we seek to include their friends and family in these decisions and in the care where we can.'
'We need the NHS across our region to continue to invest in our community services to ensure that everyone gets access to our high quality care for everyone when they are facing the end of a life.'
To help Keech Hospice Care grow its hospice at home service, you can donate £5 by texting KHCN11£5 to 70070.
