Marie Curie Nurses Diana Mapondera (left) and
Folashade Ogunkoya with Esther Rantzen
170 people gathered to hear TV presenter and journalist Esther Rantzen unveil the project, which aims to give better choice in end of life care to 1.5 million Londoners over six boroughs.
Esther said:
“It’s been called the last great taboo – we’ll talk about everything else but not about death, the one great certainty. And yet the best legacy anyone can leave is the knowledge that they have carried out a loved one’s last wishes – so if we want to die at home, we must say so.”
Andrew Eyres, Acting Chief Executive, Lambeth Primary Care Trust, said:
"There are some truly excellent palliative care services underway in south-east London, but there are also some clear barriers which stop patients from making the right choice over their place of care and death. This programme will tackle these obstacles head on so that we can support a lot more patients in making choices over their place of care with more community-based services available close to where people live."
The programme's work in south-east London will make a key contribution to the NHS's A Picture of Health for South East London project - an initiative focusing on how services need to change to meet the needs of the population. The south-east London project is also governed by the Picture of Health board.
Thomas Hughes-Hallett, Chief Executive, Marie Curie Cancer Care, said:
“In three years’ time, I believe we will be looking back on this day as a day of great significance in end of life care in London. For this programme has the potential to really change the way people are cared for at the end of their lives by supporting them in making the choice over where they spend their final months.”
The first phase of the project, an assessment of current services, has already begun and will be completed by April 2008. It is envisaged that the entire project will reach completion by autumn 2010.
Click here to find out more about the south-east London project
