Compton Care is shining a light of the breadth of specialist palliative and end-of-life care available to local people as part of Hospice Care Week (5-11 October).

The charity is using the national awareness week to help challenge some of the misconceptions surrounding hospice and palliative care, and to show that support can take many different forms, in different places and at different stages of a person’s illness.

For more than forty years, Compton Care has provided specialist care and support to people living with life limiting conditions across Wolverhampton, the Black Country, South Staffordshire and east Shropshire.

Today, that support reaches far beyond the traditional image of hospice care, with specialist teams caring for people both at Compton’s facilities and in their own homes.

At Compton’s Wolverhampton site, its 18-bed Inpatient Unit provides specialist care around the clock. A multidisciplinary team helps patients manage pain and other symptoms, alongside practical, emotional and spiritual support tailored to the needs of each individual and their family.

For many people, remaining in familiar surroundings is incredibly important. Compton’s Community team brings specialist palliative care directly into people’s homes, helping patients manage symptoms, maintain their independence and enjoy the best possible quality of life. Last year* the team made over 8,700 support visits, working closely with families and carers, providing practical advice, emotional support and reassurance.

In addition, the charity’s Virtual Ward provides an enhanced level of specialist care for people with more complex needs who might otherwise require admission to hospital or an inpatient setting. Bringing together the expertise of doctors, specialist nurses and paramedics, the service provides close monitoring, assessment and treatment while enabling more people to receive specialist care in the place they would prefer to be.

Rachel Overfield, CEO of Compton Care, said: “One of the things Hospice Care Week gives us an opportunity to do is challenge some of the perceptions people may have about palliative and end-of-life care.
“Our care isn’t confined to a hospice building, nor is it only about the very end of someone’s life. We support people living with life limiting conditions in many different ways, helping them manage their symptoms, maintain their independence and focus on what matters most to them.

“Whether we’re caring for someone in our Inpatient Unit or supporting them in their own home, we want people to know that specialist palliative care is there to help them live as well as possible.

“And our support extends to those closest to them too, with practical, emotional and spiritual support for families and loved ones, including compassionate bereavement support.”

To find out more about Compton Care’s services, please visit comptoncare.org.uk or contact its 24-hour Advice and Referral Line on 01902 774570.