Enhanced end-of-life care aim for Devon project

More beds have been made available at Mount Gould Hospital for end-of-life care patients

Improving the choices available for people nearing the end of their lives is the aim of a partnership set up by a hospital trust and a charity.

University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust and Marie Curie said they were working together to help patients in end-of-life care.

Bosses said changes made as part of the project included more dedicated beds at Mount Gould Hospital to offer a more peaceful environment for patients.

Jenny Evans, clinical nurse manager for Marie Curie, said the partnership would provide both patients and hospital staff with better support.

Other changes introduced through the partnership include Marie Curie providing healthcare assistants to support Derriford's A&E department.

A team of nurses from the charity are also identifying people nearing the end of their lives who would need support in getting transferred to their preferred place of care.

'A better death'

Shaen Millward, University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust lead for end of life, said some hospital wards such as A&E departments were often noisy and had a lack of space, which made nearing the end of life more stressful for patients.

He said the partnership between the trust and Marie Curie would help to change this.

"What it enables us to do is provide a location which is quieter that people can access more easily," Mr Millward said.

"There are an increased number of side rooms to give people that dignity and space, to have a better death."

Ms Evans said: "It's a much nicer, calmer, quieter environment with more people around to be able to have those conversations and make sure people get that enhanced level of support that they need and deserve at the end of their life."

Peter Killian said his mother Lilian's "comfort level must have been better" at Mount Gould because it was quieter

Lilian Killian was one of the people who was cared for in Mount Gould when she died in September at the age of 95 following a stroke.

Her son Peter said the contrast of her experience at Mount Gould compared to Derriford, where she was originally cared for, was "enormous".

"I would say her comfort level must have been better because it was just a lot quieter and there was less going on," Mr Killian said.