Bridging the gap building relationships between communities and
Bridging the gap – building relationships between communities and hospices Richard Meade Head of Policy and Public Affairs, Scotland
Marie Curie: who we are and what we do
Traditional view of hospices 3
Very different in reality • The vast majority of care delivered by hospices are in the community or with the community coming to the hospice. • • 4 Community nursing service Out patient appointments Day therapies Spiritual and chaplaincy support Also may not involve a hospice building at all! • Community nursing services … and in-patient care, but not just • ‘Hospice at Home’ • Befriending services end of life.
The facts and Figures: Edinburgh • In 2018/19 we had 917 day therapy attendances, as well as 406 support groups and 296 one-to-one support sessions. • In 2018/19 we supported 903 people in the community through 2, 522 visits. We also supported carers through 1, 346 community visits. • In 2018/19 we saw 339 inpatients at the hospice and the average stay was 17. 4 days. • Supported by 91 volunteers 5
The facts and Figures: Glasgow • In 2018/19 we had 2, 196 day therapy attendances. • In 2018/19 we supported people in the community through 4, 869 visits. • In 2018/19 we saw 333 in-patients at the hospice and the average stay was 18. 6 days • Supported by 117 volunteers 6
So the hospices are rooted in the community, but…. • Historically not always good at building those community connections. • Only reach out to those we know through our services. • Dependent on statutory referrals, which don’t reflect the community. • Lack of awareness of hospices and palliative care and what it can do. …need to do more! 7
As there are barriers to accessing palliative care services and hospices • Evidence to suggest that a quarter of people are still missing out. • This can be in any setting – homes, care homes, hospices, hospital and other places 8
Why? • Palliative care services – usually accessed late in a person’s disease • Perception people have about palliative care and hospices – myths and taboos • People’s backgrounds, ethnicity, culture and the disease they are dying from can all affect their chances of accessing palliative care 9
However! • Making palliative care services responsible for everything when clearly they cannot be is important to recognise. • Everyone’s responsibility. • A public health approach to palliative care – a compassionate communities approach is essential and more likely to meet the outcomes we are all working toward. 10
Taking Action • Need a community response • Need to challenge the taboo around dying, death and bereavement. • Dispel myths. • Working with communities to better understand their needs and offer services and support that meet them. • Integrated into the wider health and social care system 11
Hospices can play a role • Knowledge and expertise • Dedicated resource to support communities • Access to volunteers 12
…and progress is being made! • • • 13 Knowledge Cafes and Death Cafes Lets Talk About it! Fetes and public events at the hospices Marie Curie Services Overview/ New Marketing Campaign, Making a Will, Power Of Attorney, Arranging a Funeral, Financial Support, Advocacy Services. Engaging with hardest to reach communities to raise awareness of services and open conversations- Disability groups, Asylum Seeker/ Refugees. Attending local community events Staff as Ambassadors Kilt Walk Pride Volunteer Fairs
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Early conversations about dying and death • Marie Curie recently launched a new campaign to encourage earlier, and more open, conversations about dying and death – whatever you call it! • We want to remove the taboos around talking about dying and death, so people and their loved ones feel more prepared in the final stages on life. 16
Other examples of good practice around Scotland • Compassionate Inverclyde – supported by Ardgowan Hospice • Falkirk Health and Social Care Partnership Strathcarron Compassionate Communities Team • The Truacanta Project 17
Need to get this right now • More and more people dying each year. • Less and less funding to support the provision of palliative care services. • The need for a community response is growing and growing • We only get one chance to get it right. 18
Thank you 19
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