Learning Disability Champions to make end-of-life care more accessible
Two members of staff at the Mary Stevens Hospice have been named as Learning Disability Champions, tasked with addressing the inequalities currently evident in end-of-life care for individuals with a learning disability.
Research by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) discovered that people with learning disabilities across the UK are currently receiving poor end-of-life care, with care providers not always fully considering the specific needs of those individuals when providing palliative care.
Furthermore, The Confidential Inquiry into Premature Deaths of People with Learning Difficulties (CIPOLD) suggested that those dying were not receiving co-ordinated or supported end-of-life care, and that the care given to families could be improved. The research also identified that specialist palliative care is currently difficult to access for individuals with more complex needs.
So, in response, the Mary Stevens Hospice in Stourbridge have named Gemma Allen and Rachael Hayward as Learning Disability Champions, tasked with addressing any inequality or difference in practise currently evident when end-of-life care is provided in the local area.
They will be working with care providers in the local community with the aim of providing an accessible and user-friendly service which makes specialist care more accessible to individuals with learning disabilities who require end-of-life care.
Gemma Allen, Learning Disability Champion, Mary Stevens Hospice Group said:
“Obviously, something needs to change and we’re proud to be at the forefront of creating that change.
All individuals should have access to the highest quality of palliative care and we look forward to working closely with care providers in the region to identify opportunities to improve the standard of care currently available to members of our community with learning disabilities.”
To discuss the work being done by the Learning Disability Champions at Mary Stevens Hospice, please email rachaelhayward@marystevenshospice.co.uk