Pioneering '˜end of life' care service, Midhurst Macmillan, celebrates ten years

In the last decade the Midhurst Macmillan specialist palliative care service, provided by Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust in partnership with Macmillan, has supported thousands of people and their families in the Midhurst area.

It has been so successful, in both improving the care for people living with cancer and life limiting conditions and delivering financial savings, that it has inspired six more ‘Macmillan specialist care at home’ projects across the country.

One of the key aims is to offer people a real choice for their treatment and end of life care with many choosing to be supported at home.

Jo Stuttaford, joint service lead, said: “The service has grown over the last ten years and particularly catered for those who seek a choice as to where they are cared for and ultimately die.

“Care at home ensures familiar surroundings coupled with immediate proximity to their loved ones and relatives.”

Midhurst’s success has been attributed to its pioneering approach – a consultant led team of highly skilled doctors, nurses, support workers and other professionals.

Independent research showed patients and carers had a high-quality experience of care and that by reducing emergency admissions and hospital stays the total cost of caring for people in the last year of life was reduced.

The service relies on support from the Macmillan Cancer Support shop in Midhurst and local donations and legacies.

Shop manager Arabella Madge said: “We would like to thank the community who continue to support us through donations or volunteering.

We raised an amazing £158,000 in shop sales alone last year, and we are always keen to receive quality items to ensure we continue to raise such a fabulous amount.”

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