The Somerset project

Karen Burfitt, Somerset Project Manager, Chris Born,
Chief Executive, North Somerset Primary Care Trust,
Dr Will Warin, GP and Clinical Chair of the Darzi South
West End of Life Clinical Pathway Group, Jan Hull,
Deputy Chief Executive, Somerset Primary Care Trust,
Clare-Louise Nicholls, Programme Manager for Older
People and End of Life Care, North Somerset Primary
Care Trust, Jane Barrie OBE, Chair, Somerset Primary
Care Trust

In 2005, more than 65 per cent of all deaths in the region were linked to cancer and heart disease. While Marie Curie Cancer Care’s research has found that most people (64 per cent) in the UK would like to die at home if they had a terminal illness, only 18 per cent of people in Somerset are able to do so.

The development of better palliative care services will also meet the future needs of Somerset’s large ageing population.

Jan Hull, Deputy Chief Executive, Director of Strategic Development and Partnerships Somerset Primary Care Trust, said:

“The Somerset/North Somerset Partnership is delighted to have been selected for this Programme. We will be working collaboratively with local organisations, with patients and carers, with Marie Curie and with the other Delivering Choice sites to ensure that we use this opportunity to develop the very best palliative care services.”

Thomas Hughes-Hallett, Chief Executive, Marie Curie
Cancer Care, Chris Born, Chief Executive, North
Somerset Primary Care Trust, Sue Balcombe,
Associate Director of Provider Services, Somerset
Primary Care Trust, Judith Brown, Director of Provider
Services, Somerset Primary Care Trust, Clare Steel,
Head of Service – Adult Social Care, Somerset
County Council, Julian Abel, Consultant Palliative
Care Medicine, Weston Hospicecare

Jon Andrewes, Chief Executive, St Margaret’s Somerset Hospice, said:

“We are looking forward to being part of the Delivering Choice Programme as I believe it will make a very significant difference to the way we plan and deliver palliative care services for local people. Few patients choose to die in hospital and although a hospice may provide exceptionally good and dedicated care, the choice most patients say they want is to come to the end of their life within the familiar surroundings of their own home and with their loved ones. This programme will make this possible for many more people.”

Dr Julian Abel, Consultant in Palliative Care for Weston Hospicecare and Weston Area Health NHS Trust, said:

“This is a major palliative care programme, and as a clinician I am sure it will lead to important service improvements for patients across our local area.”

Download the Somerset project briefing note (pdf document, 60KB)