Patients from across Staffordshire are to receive increased access to specialist inpatient palliative care following the opening of additional beds at St Giles Hospice in Whittington.
St Giles Hospice, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, has been providing free palliative and end of life care to local people since 1983.
Andrew Harkness, Chief Executive at St Giles Hospice, said: “We’re delighted to be supporting the NHS in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent. They are demonstrating their commitment to ensuring local people have access to specialist palliative and end of life care services.
“The demand for high quality care for people living with a terminal illness is higher than ever.”
The hospice spends around £10million a year providing specialist services with 25% of this funded by the Government.
Katie Burbridge, Director of Clinical Services and Quality at St Giles Hospice said: “Throughout winter, we have continued to provide round the clock specialist care to patients in our community and on our Inpatient Unit.
“It is essential that we support our community and our NHS colleagues during this time and by opening these beds we are helping to relieve some of the pressure currently faced by our local hospitals.”
“I want to extend my gratitude to all our volunteers and staff who have made this possible. This is a great achievement and provides welcome additional support for patients and their loved ones, our local NHS partners and St Giles Hospice.”
To find out more about the services St Giles Hospice offers, visit: www.stgileshospice.com/about-us/