Manorlands plea to 'help us provide crucial care' (From Keighley News)

Manorlands plea to 'help us provide crucial care'

10:00am Saturday 13th October 2012 in News By Alistair Shand

Manorlands is marking Hospice Care Week with a plea for support.

The Oxenhope Sue Ryder home is asking people to give their backing, through fundraising or volunteering.

Hospice Care Week, which runs until Sunday, aims to highlight how hospices support people from diagnosis and don’t just provide end-of-life care. The venture, first held last year, is organised by Help the Hospices.

Lizzie Procter, head of care at Manorlands, said: “Diagnosis of a terminal condition shouldn’t mean a person’s life stops at that point.

“We look beyond a diagnosis and focus on the person with their needs, wishes, hopes and dreams. We treat everyone in our care individually, offering them as much flexibility and freedom as possible to make the most of the time they have left. And this care extends to their family and loved ones too.

“By supporting your local hospice, you can help us support people to live their lives, retain independence where possible and a sense of self – and when the time comes, to support them to have a good death, with dignity, pain-free and in the place of their choice.”

Manorlands is developing its services in line with Sue Ryder’s five-year strategy and Government changes in the way health and social care will be commissioned in the future.

Particular emphasis is being placed on developing effective integrated health and care services and more community-based provision to support people in their own homes. Manorlands already boasts involvement in several examples of successful integration between providers, such as a service for people diagnosed with motor neurone disease and their families.

Specialist outpatient clinics are held every three months at Airedale Hospital and a community nurse from Sue Ryder is part of the multi-disciplinary team of experts present.

Mrs Procter said: “Patients really benefit from these specialist clinics.

“In a single appointment they can have all their symptoms assessed.”

Also, Manorlands – through co-operation with Airedale NHS Foundation Trust – offers its patients a tele-consultation service that gives people round-the-clock access to expert advice.

Mike Hughes, palliative care consultant at Manorlands, said: “This service enabled me to assess, visually, a patient who was too poorly to come to the phone.”

For more information, phone 01535 642308 or visit sueryder.org.