Hampshire emergency response service helps nearly 100 people avoid hospital at the end of their lives
The Emergency End of Life Response Team service has been helping people who are seriously unwell to receive urgent specialist care
We're hearing a Hampshire emergency response service has helped nearly 100 people avoid hospital at the end of their lives.
The Emergency End of Life Response Team service has been helping people who are seriously unwell to receive urgent specialist care in the last two weeks of life since September.
It's after there's been growing pressure on emergency services has been seen over the winter with increasing numbers of people dying in hospital.
Mary Parkes, Clinical Lead for the Emergency End of Life Response Team and Specialist Doctor in Palliative Medicine, said: "The service enables adult patients who are in the last days of their life to die where they wish to be, whether that's at home, in their usual care home, or in the Rowan's Hospice.
"We know that less than 10% of us would choose to die in hospital, but about 40% of people do die in hospital in this country."
The service aims to offer everything needed to help people feel safe and supported at the end of life, including:
• Expert symptom management
• Immediate advice and honest conversations about what is happening
• Rapid assessment in hospital settings
• Hands-on care from Rowans Hospice’s dedicated 24/7 Hospice at Home team
Nick Saunders, Team Leader for Rowan's Hospice at Home service, said: "Many of the patients are very relived to get home in comfortable surroundings with their loved ones and friends.
"One gentleman said to one of my colleagues, 'you don't know what you've done for us here'.
So you know, it means a lot to people to be able to reach the end of their life in their preferred place of death.
"That's what we're trying to support and that support is very different for each patient."
Rowans Hospice is an independent charity based in Waterlooville, supporting people across Portsmouth and South East Hampshire who have a life-limiting illness, are approaching the end of life, or are experiencing bereavement.