New Palliative Care Centre opens in East Kilbride
PEOPLE with cancer and other serious illnesses will benefit from a new day centre that was officially opened in East Kilbride on Wednesday July 23.
The Kilbryde Hospice’s Red Deer Drop-In Centre, run in conjunction with NHS Lanarkshire, will provide palliative care services to an estimated 400 patients each year.
Jim McColl OBE (chairman and chief executive of East Kilbride-based Clyde Blowers and the hospice’s biggest single benefactor), performed the official opening duties by cutting the ribbon to declare the new facility open.
But the centre has already proved a big hit with patients and their families since its unofficial opening on May 12.
The out-patient facility, based at the Red Deer Centre in Westwood, East Kilbride, provides treatments, advice and support to people with a progressive illness such as cancer.
Craig Cunningham, general manager for NHS Lanarkshire’s East Kilbride Locality, is delighted with the new facility.
He said: “It will provide a much needed local service for patients, their relatives, carers and friends.
“The hospice offers the full range of services from clinical intervention through alternative therapies and helpful information to a quiet area and somebody to talk to over a cup of tea.
“We have been able to combine clinically appropriate facilities within a homely environment to compliment the range of services on offer.”
Craig also paid tribute to the Kilbryde Hospice Appeal for their efforts in securing the new facility.
He said: “I have been delighted to work with the Hospice Appeal and their hard working volunteers and I’m sure that over the coming years we will build on the excellent work to date and create a facility that local people can be proud of and realise the benefit of in times of need.
“I would encourage any patient and or their family who believe they could benefit from the service to be in contact with us at the contact numbers provide or just to drop in and see at first hand the services on offer.”
Tony McGuinness, the Kilbryde Hospice Appeal chairman and founder member, said the official opening was an historic moment for the local community.
He added: “We have waited seven years for this day to come and now at last the Kilbryde Hospice Appeal has provided a palliative care facility for the community. I am absolutely delighted.”
The drop-in centre has four rooms - an office, quiet room, therapy and consulting room - as well as an open area for tea/coffee, comfortable seating and an IT area.
There is also access to a garden area, with seating.
Specialist nurse Joanna Dunlop will lead the services on offer at the centre.
These include:
- an information and support service
- a complementary therapist offering aromatherapy, Reiki, reflexology and Indian head massage two days a week,
- a consultant led symptom control clinic, volunteer service providing support and befriending and referrals to the Citizens’ Advice Bureau/ Macmillan partnership for financial advice.
No referrals are required to access services and patients, family and friends can access them freely.
A volunteer will meet them on arrival and offer tea/coffee, and then inform the nurse.
If appropriate an appointment will be made for them to return to see either the nurse or the therapist but if people do not wish to use these services they are free to continue to drop-in when they wish.
The unit is open Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm and can be contacted on 01355 593484.
Costs of running the day centre and paying for staff is being shared by the Hospice Appeal and NHS Lanarkshire, with each paying £50,000 in the first year, £100,000 the second year and £150,000 the following year, with recurring costs for future years.