The NHS on the Isle of Wight, Earl Mountbatten Hospice, Layla’s Trust and Kissy Puppy are working in partnership to provide palliative care for Children and Young People with a life limiting or life threatening illness on the Isle of Wight.
Helen Shields, Chief Officer of the Isle of Wight Clinical Commissioning Group, says: “Children’s palliative care is a basic human right for any child diagnosed with a life limiting or life threatening illness. It enhances the quality of a child’s life and provides much needed support to members of the child’s family. It is so important for children with a life-threatening illness, and their families, to have easy access to the right care and support at a time of great need. The nearest Children’s Hospice is Naomi House near Winchester which requires a Solent crossing and travel. We are working closely with Earl Mountbatten Hospice, Isle of Wight NHS Trust and others to create an Island based service to help enhance children’s quality of life through the provision of care and support in their place of choice.”
In 2011, a review of palliative care services for Children and Young People on the Isle of Wight showed that access to respite, practical information and psychological support was severely lacking. In response, the Isle of Wight Clinical Commissioning Group is commissioning services which can be provided in a choice of venues on the Island, including in the home and in hospital and at Earl Mountbatten Hospice.
The Isle of Wight Clinical Commissioning Group is fully committed to supporting the development of palliative care for Children and Young People with a life limiting or life threatening illness, and will continue to work closely with the Isle of Wight NHS Trust, Earl Mountbatten Hospice, Layla’s Trust and Kissy Puppy in the future.
Speaking about the plans for the development of Children’s palliative care services on the Isle of Wight, Gill Kennett, Associate Director for Community Health services at Isle of Wight NHS Trust said: “We work in close partnership with Isle of Wight families and other agencies in the provision of palliative care. We fully support the endeavours of the Earl Mountbatten Hospice to expand services to embrace the whole Island community. Collaborating to develop local services for children and young people in the future is of immense importance and, we believe, practical and achievable.”
Earl Mountbatten Hospice is a key partner for Isle of Wight NHS Trust in the delivery of healthcare services across the Island. This was recognised with the agreement, following the outcome of consultation on the Trust’s plans to become a Foundation Trust, that the Hospice should become a stakeholder Governor on the Trust’s proposed Council of Governors. Clinical staff employed by the Hospice are seconded from Isle of Wight NHS Trust.
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