MEDIA RELEASE

For immediate release
24 November 2008

Charity bids to expand end of life
nursing care in Surrey

Marie Curie Cancer Care has announced today it is looking to restructure its services in Surrey to deliver more nursing care to more patients.

Currently, around half of all cancer deaths in the county occur in hospital. Research by the charity shows most people in the UK would wish to die at home if they had a terminal illness.

Earlier this year, Marie Curie Cancer Care made a commitment to double the number of people being cared for at home at the end of life by the Marie Curie Nursing Service.

As a result, the charity is considering a restructure of its services in Surrey which could see the closure of its Caterham Hospice site and the associated day care service by March 31 next year. It is also reviewing the current Community Supportive Care Service and the Specialist Palliative Care team.

The charity is actively talking with its staff and Surrey and Croydon PCTs about its proposals and how best to support more patients and their families in the future through the delivery of more home nursing care.

Susan Munroe, Director of Nursing and Patient Services, said: “If we are able to invest more in the local Marie Curie Nursing Service, we believe we will be much better placed to help more people achieve their wish to die at home.”

In-patient beds at the Harestone Drive hospice were shut three years ago following a sharp drop in admissions and were replaced as an interim measure by four beds at the North Downs Hospital.

The charity has already announced that those beds, which have been occupied for less than 50 per cent of the time, would close this week. After that date, patients requiring in-patient palliative care will go to either St Catherine’s Hospice in Crawley, St Christopher’s Hospice in Sydenham or Caterham Dene Hospital.

For 2009 - in addition to its core 9-hour night-time service provided by Registered Nurses or Healthcare Assistants - the charity is now offering commissioners a range of new services, including rapid response, 24/7 nursing care, multi-visit shifts and service co-ordination.

All services remain free of charge to patients, families and carers.

Susan Munroe added: “Day care services at the hospice will continue as normal until we have finished our discussions with the PCT and other healthcare providers in the area.”

ENDS