The new model will see community nursing and home care staff – supported by respective specialist clinical staff – working in an integrated 24/7 way to provide palliative and end of life care and support to people in their own homes or in a homely setting.
 
Approved at North Lanarkshire Integration Joint Board (IJB) on Tuesday 12 December, the new model reflects the preferences of people – expressed during a review of palliative care services earlier this year – to receive end of life care in their own home.

The  decision builds on the decision made by the South Lanarkshire IJB on Tuesday 5 December, to also adopt the new model.

Val de Souza Director, Health and Social Care, South Lanarkshire Health and Social Care Partnership, said: “I’m delighted that both boards have adopted this new pan-Lanarkshire model which will bring undoubted benefits to residents across the county.”
 
Councillor Paul Kelly, Chair of the North Lanarkshire IJB, said: “Having a comprehensive community based service to support palliative care is not only in keeping with the wishes of the population, it is also a major objective of the IJB.
 
“This new model will complement the community supports and services which are already in place and which continue to be developed within Lanarkshire to provide integrated care in support of patients in locality settings.”

 The new model continues to recognise the importance of hospice provision and the services they provide that will support Lanarkshire residents.
 
In relation to specialist inpatient palliative care, this will see:

• Thirty beds within the upgraded St Andrew’s Hospice due to open in 2018. This arrangement will be reviewed in 12 months’ to determine its alignment with the strategic aim of supporting people at home.
• A range of community palliative care services with Strathcarron Hospice, including Hospice at Home.
• Twelve beds in the purpose build Kilbryde Hospice on the grounds of University Hospital Hairmyres.

Both health and social care partnerships will work towards implementing the new model from 1 April 2018.