More hospices needed ‘to care for people dying gradually’
More hospices and care homes are needed to cope with increasing numbers of people dying “gradual” deaths, say doctors.
By Stephen Adams, Medical Correspondent
7:30AM BST 18 Sep 2012
The country faces a growing crisis in its ability to care for people suffering cancer, dementia and other long-term ailments, according to specialists who say that supply is not keeping pace with demand.
Better health care, and to some extent a fitter older population, means fewer people are experiencing “sudden” deaths, for example from heart attacks.
While increased longevity is to be welcomed, doctors say not enough resources are being devoted to making the last days of the elderly as comfortable as possible. Doctors writing in the British Medical Journal Supportive and Palliative Care say gradual deaths from cancer and other chronic diseases are already “a considerable burden” for European countries.
Dementia care services need ‘radical overhaul’ in Scotland
ALZHEIMER Scotland wants to see a co-ordinator appointed to oversee the health and care of dementia patients.
CARE services for people with dementia need a radical overhaul, Alzheimer Scotland has said.
Many of Scotland’s estimated 84,000 sufferers do not receive the coordinated health and social support that is vital to help them live in the community, the charity said.
Carers, partners and families of sufferers are also lacking essential support as a result of the current “fragmented” care system.
Alzheimer Scotland wants to see a co-ordinator appointed to oversee the treatment and care of dementia patients.
Princess Royal opens new outreach centre in Trowbridge
The Princess Royal has opened a new centre to support people with terminal illnesses in Wiltshire.
The new centre offers one-to-one and group rooms, a creative studio, treatment rooms and a cafeThe Dorothy House outreach facility in Trowbridge was launched in August and provides a drop-in service for carers and their families as well as patients.
It is the first of two centres planned this year, with another due to open in Somerset at the end of 2012.
Wayne De Leeuw, the centre manager, said it was hoped the centre would “provide more care to more people.”
