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Risingneedforpalliativecare
spurshospiceexpansionplan
Continued from Page 1
The charity estimates that Oxford-
shire’s population will grow from
636,000 in 2008 to more than 736,000
in 2030 – an increase of 16 per cent.
But Mrs Gardner said the hospice
is expecting to be under even more
pressure because the number of
pensioners is predicted to rise by 68
per cent during the same period –
from 115,000 to 193,000.
This is in line with the county
council’s prediction that Oxford-
shire’s population will soar past
the million mark by 2037 and reach
1,150,000 by 2052.
Mrs Gardner added: “We know the
need for palliative care will grow
and we are starting now to future-
proof for that. We want to build a
facility that will react to what we
are expecting we will see in terms
of older, frailer patients who need
more support – who can be nursed
in a facility that suits people who
maybe have dementia.”
Sobell House Charity is the char-
itable arm of the hospice, which
is based at a purpose-built centre
which opened at the Churchill Hos-
pital, in Old Road, Headington, in
2000.
The NHS hospice, which is a part-
nership between the trust and char-
ity, is currently caring for around
3,000 patients across the county,
split between its 18-bed unit with
day centre and clinical rooms, as
well as people’s homes.
In the first phase of the new
plans the charity will pay for the
OUH to employ two new medical
consultants to extend palliative
and end-of-life care for complex
patients.
The cash will also boost the team
to include a specialist pharmacist
to help with pain management,
two occupational therapists and
three new nurses to provide more
weekend care.
It will build on the current team
which includes a consultant work-
ing three days a week at the trust
and will mean there will be spe-
cialist support available every day.
OUH palliative care clinical lead
Dr Mary Miller said the addition-
al staff mean more patients who
could have an end-of-life care plan
will be able to get one.
Currently around 1,200 of the
6,000 people a year who die in the
county do so in hospital, but Dr
Miller said this is expected to grow
by 15 per cent to 6,900 by 2040.
Dr Miller said the new staff will
mean more patients will be seen
and get the end-of-life care they
need – whether in hospital, at
home or at Sobell House.
She added: “I hope there will
be an improvement in patients’
symptoms and their understand-
ing of what is happening with
them and planning for where they
might like to die if that is possible.
“We are hoping that wherever
a patient plans to be, whether in
hospital, Sobell House or at home,
that their care from Sobell House
goes to where they are rather than
the immediate walls of the hos-
pice building.”
The second stage of the expan-
sion project will involve building a
£5m extension to the current cen-
tre overlooking Southfield Golf
Club.
Mrs Gardner said the aim is to
have six or seven new beds for vul-
nerable patients with long-term
conditions such as dementia.
While the charity has set aside
£4m to begin the plans, it will still
need to raise more cash to com-
plete the project.
Mrs Gardner appealed for people
to come forward and help, wheth-
er by running marathons, holding
fundraising events, or businesses
INCREASE: Charity estimates a 68 per cent growth in number of pensioners by 2030
CEREMONY:
The Bishop
of Oxford,
the Right
Rev Patrick
Rodger,
centre, staff
nurse Barbara
Gale and site
agent Eric
Hale at the
topping out
for a new
day centre at
Sobell House
in 1982
FACTFILE
MICHAEL SOBELL
PATIENTS with life-limiting conditions can
receive treatment from Sobell House in a
variety of ways.
The purpose-built centre at the Churchill
Hospital offers an 18-bed ward as well as a
day centre facility and a telephone service
so patients and families can ring up with
concerns.
A team of 14 community nurses – who
work as part of the Oxford University
Hospital Foundation Trust’s palliative care
team – and a consultant can visit patients in
their own homes.
Currently the team has a single palliative
care consultant who works at the hospital
three days a week identifying patients who
could benefit from an end-of-life care plan.
When the new consultants come on board
there will be a dedicated team member
across the trust – which runs the John
Radcliffe, Churchill, Horton General and
Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre – flagging up
end-of-life patients.
Those who can be moved home or into
Sobell House will be, but others will be
offered their end-of-life package in the
hospital.
The hospice is an NHS facility which
works in partnership with the trust to
provide end-of-life care, with additional cash
being raised by the charity.
Patients that require an end-of-life care
plan include people with incurable illnesses
such as cancer, dementia or motor neurone
disease, frail people with complex conditions
expected to die within 12 months, or
life-threatening acute conditions that could
cause sudden death such as stroke.
p Michael Sobell was born in Austria in
November 1892 before his family later
migrated to England.
p He formed his charitable trust The
Sobell Foundation in 1962 after selling his
electrical equipment company.
p Sir Michael, who was also the president
of the National Society for Cancer Relied,
was knighted for his charitable work in
1972’s New Year’s Honours List. During his
lifetime, his foundation helped to fund
cancer research, Anglo-Jewish charities
and sports centres.
p Sir Michael also loved horse racing and
had a sting of wins including with Derby
winning horse Troy in 1979.
p He died in 1993 at the age of 100 and
was survived by his two daughters.
PLANS: Diane Gardner in the garden of Sobell House, some of which will be sacrificed to make room for the expansion Picture: Jon Lewis
FOUNDATION: Sir Michael Sobell
joining the The 40 Club.
Members of the networking club
must pledge to raise £10,000 over
the next four years for the charity
as part of its bid to expand even
further and meet the needs of the
booming population.
To donate call 01865 857007, or
send a cheque made payable to So-
bell House Hospice Charity Ltd to
Sobell House, Churchill Hospital,
Old Road, Oxford, OX3 7LE or visit
sobellhouse.org.