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Two local hospices join forces to offer a day service at the heart of the community

14 August 2008

The Leeds based Sue Ryder Care Wheatfields Hospice and St Gemma's Hospice are working in partnership to provide a new specialist palliative care day service for patients in the south of Leeds who are living with complex conditions including cancer, stroke and multiple sclerosis.

In line with the End of Life Care Strategy released by the government, the new centre demonstrates how the Hospices run and develop innovative end of life care services through community-based and outreach programmes, ensuring people can access their vital services. 

The new service is based at St George's Centre in Middleton and provides a range of palliative care services including appointments with medical and nursing staff, specialist physiotherapy and complementary therapies for people with life threatening illnesses closer to their own homes.

Samantha Cheverton, Care Centre Manager at Sue Ryder Care said, "For many years the hospices have been aware that patients who live in the south of Leeds have not had the same access to hospice services as those living in the north of the city.  We are delighted to be working in partnership with St Gemma's Hospice to provide a new specialist palliative day service to this group of patients allowing them choices in where they receive their care."

Cath Miller, Director of Nursing at St. Gemma's Hospice said, "St George's Centre provides an ideal venue to be a 'one stop shop', having a benefits adviser available, library and computer facilities, minor injuries department, pain clinic and a physiotherapy clinic".

This service is being supported by the Marie Curie Delivering Choice Programme and Leeds NHS Primary Care Trust.

For more information, contact Dr Annette Edwards or Gill Sykes, Sue Ryder Care Wheatfields Hospice on 0113 278 7249 or Eileen Aspinall, Day Services Manager, St Gemma's Hospice on 0113 218 5295.

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