Report and photos from Trish Ireland

At the September public meeting of the West Lancashire and Southport Breathe Easy Group, the speaker was Dr.Tim Jones, Medical Director of Queenscourt Hospice and expert in Palliative Care medicine.

He brought a number of excellent booklets and leaflets which he gave out to everyone present; one of these was 'Planning for your future care', a detailed and very helpful publication, encouraging people to have conversations with their nearest and dearest about their future wishes and care.

This was not a depressing talk, quite the reverse; many interesting questions were raised by the audience, such as which areas Queenscourt Hospice serves. Dr. Jones explained that the area goes as far East as Skelmersdale/Upholland, as far north as Tarleton and on the southern side, to Formby. The Hospice cares for patients 18 years and older, but provides support for the whole family.

It costs £3 million per year to run Queenscourt Hospice and less than 1/3 of this comes from Government funds. The rest is raised and donated by members of the public; a great number of small donations really add up, and of course there are Coffee Shops (such as in Churchtown), charity shops and sponsored events too.

Queenscourt has 10 in-patient beds, but contrary to what many people think, a great deal of their work is providing services to Out Patients - these include helping with symptom control, such as the relief of pain; procedures, such as blood transfusions; Occupational therapy, Physiotherapy and provision of equipment; Complementary therapies for Day patients, such as relaxation, aromatherapy; and Creative therapy, such as art classes.

Hospice staff may also go into schools, providing bereavement support for children; they help patients in Care Homes and also provide the Queenscourt at Home Service. Referrals to the Hospice come from our two hospitals in Ormskirk and Southport and from GPs.

Our next meeting will be held on Monday October 16th, when Mark Wenman of NW Ambulance Service will be coming to speak to us. Everyone is welcome. The meeting will be held at the Guide HQ, Green Lane, Ormskirk, L39 1ND, next door to the Rugby Club, where there is ample free parking, starting at 11 am with light refreshments and finishing at approximately 12.30pm.

Breathe Easy Groups change the lives of respiratory patients and their families for the better. They are voluntary self-help groups of the national charity, the British Lung Foundation! There is another, excellent group at Formby, the North Sefton Group, which meets on the First Wednesday of each month at the Doves Centre, Formby Railway Station (car park off Dukes Street), starting at 1pm. There is also a newly formed Skelmersdale Breathe Easy Group; for details, phone Michael on 01695-724358.