Hospice to step in and offer support for families with life limiting illnesses
Tap to watch this report ITV News Meridian's James Dunham
A hospice in Kent is to step in and provide vital support for families with life limiting illnesses.
Pembury based Hospice In The Weald, who offer end of life care to terminally ill patients, will start providing home support in the form of appointments, treatment and counselling for children and their families.
For the family of Theo Powell who has Cystic fibrosis the support will be a huge relief and will mean less hospital treatment in London which is tiring and takes it toll on family life.
His mother Caroline Powell said, "Having to travel from home to hospital that takes a massive chunk out of life as it's travelling there, travelling back, so it's at least two hours you need."
Theo's father Reverend Lawrence Powell said, "It really it takes its toll on him, especially on the way home, you can imagine he just wants to go home, he just wants to have his bath and go to bed."
Meeting demand
The service will help support an increasing number of families with children who have life limiting illnesses in the south east
Hospice in the Weald Acting Chief Executive, Nick Farthing said,
"We have cared for the adult population in the local area for more than 40 years, and now is the time to extend this outstanding care to families with children and young people who need our support. The care we provide for children is likely to look different to that which we provide for adults; typically we care for adults in the last year of life but we are likely to care for children for much longer periods of time.
“At present some of our most vulnerable children across Kent & Sussex have to travel long distances to London for care that simply isn’t available in our area. Our new children’s service will change this - reducing stress by providing free, at-home care for children with life-limiting conditions, where they can remain surrounded by their favourite people and comforts, rather than in a strange hospital bed for as long as they need.”
The hospice would like to hear from any family who feels they would benefit from the support.