St Giles has expanded its much loved Hospice at Home Service to support people living in Walsall.

A new team of hospice healthcare assistants has been recruited to support people who are in the last few weeks of life, by providing practical nursing care and emotional support to patients and their families in their own home.

Chief Executive Emma Hodges said the roll out of the new service, which launched in February, is part of St Giles’ ongoing commitment to supporting people in the Walsall community,

“Hospice at Home is a really important service which helps to support patients and their families in achieving someone’s wishes to die at home,” she said.

“Many of the families we have supported have told us just how important this support is at such a difficult time, because of the choice it gives loved ones.

“Thanks to the generosity of local people and in particular an individual who left a legacy to St Giles, our Trustees have agreed to fund a pilot of Hospice at Home in Walsall to see if it demonstrates the same benefits to patients, families and the health economy as it has in Staffordshire.

“This charitable fund will only cover eighteen months, so we hope that the public will support us in funding this service going forwards.”

The Hospice at Home service will initially cover the South and East of the area for the 12 month pilot and would then be would be rolled out across Walsall.

Director of Nursing Katie Taroni said the need for the service and the areas it has launched in had been identified through research with patients, GPs and District Nurses and the palliative care team in Walsall.

“We’ve spoken to a wide range of healthcare professionals along with the patients at our Walsall Hospice and the need for the extra support Hospice at Home can offer is clear,” she said.

“We are keen to make sure Hospice at Home is there for as many people as possible so will be rolling out the service in the near future.”

The Hospice at Home team will also be working alongside the Walsall NHS Palliative Care team.

For more information about St Giles and the expert care it provides, please visit www.stgileshospice.com.