Work Of London Hospices Celebrated At City Hall

Main Category: Palliative Care / Hospice Care
Article Date: 09 Oct 2008 - 2:00 PDT

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The pioneering work of London's hospice movement will be celebrated at a City Hall reception in the same week as World Hospice Day. Staff, volunteers and service users from London hospices, along with representatives from the capital's local authorities, NHS and the voluntary sectors will meet to share ideas on how to improve end of life care as part of a programme of joint work between the Mayor and London hospices and service users.

The theme of the reception echoes the focus of the first ever End of Life Care Strategy published by the Department of Health in July. Deputy Mayor of London Richard Barnes, along with the Mayor's Senior Policy Adviser on Health and Sustainable Development Alex Bax and leading figures from the London Hospice movement will celebrate the contribution of the London hospice movement and encourage closer working between sectors in the delivery of high quality end of life care.

Deputy Mayor Richard Barnes said:

" The modern hospice movement has pioneered a holistic approach to end of life care. I would like to pay tribute to London hospices for their vital and essential work. I welcome all parties shared commitment to closer working between hospices, the NHS and local authorities to enhance the quality of life for individuals and families coping with serious illness.

"As part of the Mayor's work to reduce health inequalities we are focussing on making services more accessible and looking at how the Mayor can help to ensure high quality of end of life care is available for all Londoners."

Two short films will be screened at the reception developed in collaboration with service users and Rosetta Life that give a personal perspective on the importance of high quality end of life care.

Notes

1. Media wishing to attend the event should contact communitydesk@london.gov.uk

2. World Hospice Day falls on 11 October each year.

3. The following people will be speaking at the reception:

- Richard Barnes, Deputy Mayor of London, GLA
- Alex Bax, Senior Policy Adviser - Health and Sustainable Development, GLA
- Dr Rob George, Co-Chair of the End of Life Care Clinical Advisory Group, Consultant in Palliative Medicine, Ealing Hospital NHS Trust, and Senior Lecturer in Biomedical Ethics, University College, London
- Jim Bennett, CEO Greenwich & Bexley Cottage Hospice and Help the Hospices Advisory Council London Representative
- David Hart, Chair of Help the Hospices National User Group and Trinity Hospice User Group

http://www.london.gov.uk

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