Palliative and end-of-life care group launched

A group has been formed to help develop an end-of life and palliative care strategy for Guernsey.

The Committee for Health & Social Care and Les Bourgs Hospice said the group had been formed to deliver the strategy and to ensure "every individual receives the right support" when the time came.

Representatives from government, the charitable sector, and private providers have formed the group to design a five-year strategy. It will also review service delivery models and assess financial implications.

Rob Jones, CEO of Les Bourgs Hospice, said the new group was "a significant and positive moment for the Bailiwick".

He said: "By planning for the future and recognising that the needs of our community are changing - and will continue to change as our population ages - we can ensure that everyone receives the right support at the right time.

"Les Bourgs Hospice is committed to sharing our expertise and working collaboratively with Health & Social Care to shape a compassionate, coherent approach that benefits patients, families, and the wider community for many years to come."

Deputy George Oswald, president of the Committee for Health & Social Care, said the group reflected its "commitment to improving outcomes for islanders at one of the most sensitive and significant times in their lives".

"By working collaboratively across sectors, we can ensure that every person receives the right care, in the right place, at the right time - with dignity and compassion at the heart of everything we do."

Deputy Steve Falla, charity sector lead for the Policy & Resources Committee, said the collaborative approach ensured services were "not only compassionate but also consistent and accessible across the island".

The States said the final strategy would be expected to be completed in September 2026.

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