PRESS RELEASE

28 January 2009

End of life care for East Surrey to be provided by
St Catherine’s Hospice

Surrey Primary care Trust (PCT), St Catherine’s Hospice and the ESyDoc GPs are pleased to announce agreement in principle that will secure the future of specialist end of life care services for people in east Surrey.

This resolves the uncertainty that has followed Marie Curie’s announcement of its plans to withdraw specialist palliative services from the Caterham area at the end of March.

Shaun O’Leary, Chief Executive of St Catherine’s Hospice, said:

“Over 70% of our patients are cared for in their homes and we already provide home, day care and in-patient services for some people living in the Redhill and Reigate areas. This would therefore be an expansion of our existing services.

In considering this commitment we have had to be sure that we can offer the same level of specialist care we already provide, without compromising the services to our current patients across mid Sussex and other parts of Surrey. We are confident that we can do this.

“As a local charity we are dedicated to providing high quality end of life care and support to local people, their families, friends and carers. All our care is free and, even with additional funding from Surrey PCT, our work is still only made possible through the generosity of local people and volunteers.”

Kay Mackay, Director of Strategy and Service Delivery at Surrey PCT, said:

“I’m delighted to be able to announce what is fantastic news for people in Caterham and east Surrey.

“This is the solution we’ve all been working so hard to achieve: vital services safe and being provided by a local charity with an excellent reputation who will give people the high quality end of life care they need.

“Local people have said loud and clear how much they value these services and together I’m sure we’ll do all we can to support St Catherine’s as they establish these services and support patients through the transition.”

Surrey PCT and St Catherine’s have discussed a description of services, which the hospice believes it can meet, to provide end of life care to local people living in east Surrey.

The services will need to be developed in time for the March 31st deadline, and therefore detailed planning is now underway. Surrey PCT and St Catherine’s will consult with GPs, patient representatives and local campaigners, to ensure the provision of end of life care which meets the needs of local people.

More information will be made available as these arrangements take shape.

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For more information please contact the Surrey PCT press office on 01372 201793.