Hospice care across the West Midlands has received an exciting boost as researchers have received a quarter of a million pound grant to establish better care for terminally ill patients.
The funding will support researchers at the University of Warwick working with Marie Curie to explore the impact that Covid-19 has had on hospice care across the region. Examining the experiences of up to 22 local hospices, the research findings will be used to improve clinical practise for people dying now and in the years to come.
The researchers are calling on hospices in the West Midlands to participate in the project by shedding a light on the experience of their patients and staff during the pandemic. The work will shape the future of care in the West Midlands and ultimately influence palliative medicine nationwide.
Dr John MacArtney, Senior Research Fellow at the Marie Curie Hospice, West Midlands and Warwick Medical School at the University of Warwick said:
"Hospices across the country have had to radically adapt over the last 12 months, implementing huge changes, such as limits on visits, which have had a lasting impact on patients and their families and placed pressure on community services. While the pandemic was a once in a generation event, we know more people will die in future as our population ages. As such, there are lessons we can learn from the last year that can help improve care for dying people in the future.
"The West Midlands is the ideal place in which to explore these issues, with its diverse community and broad demographic population. I am delighted at the opportunities this funding offers the region and the chance to explore how hospices can continue to evolve in the wake of Covid-19."
Dr Sabine Best, Head of Research at Marie Curie Said:
"We at Marie Curie are dedicated to ensuring everyone receives the care and support they need at the end of their lives. As a sector we must learn, collectively and collaboratively, how best we can support our communities through the challenges that may still be present long after the pandemic. We would be delighted to see as many hospices within the West Midlands lend their support to this project. This grant is a great success for one of our Marie Curie Research Fellows but also for the West Midlands - by working with other hospices in the region we will gather the evidence to provide even better care for years to come."
