Oxfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group (OCCG) is inviting the community in South Oxfordshire to a virtual meeting to outline proposals and gauge local support for specialist palliative care inpatient beds in this part of the county.

The meeting will take place virtually on Wednesday 30 June 2021, starting at 6.30pm. The link to join is   https://zoom.us/j/99926360297?pwd=Umh0YlJmRkVuSGtHSWVVVGttaFhVZz09 

The meeting will be hosted by the Townlands Steering Group and will be chaired by the chief executive of the independent watchdog, Healthwatch Oxfordshire. Presenting at the meeting and answering questions will be the clinical director for community services at Oxford Health NHS FT, the lead GP for end of life care at OCCG (who is a local doctor) and the deputy chief executive at OCCG.
 
OCCG's proposal is to open two specialist beds at Wallingford Community Hospital in close collaboration with the Sue Ryder charity's expert ‘Hospice at Home’ service. The charity’s Oxfordshire hub is at nearby Preston Crowmarsh. 

OCCG has been working with the Sue Ryder to increase the number of people being supported at home for their palliative care – about 20 people at any one time in South Oxfordshire. However, some people with very complex end of life needs require inpatient care. Following the closure of the Sue Ryder inpatient unit in Nettlebed in March 2020, people in South Oxfordshire needing this level of care have been admitted to the Duchess of Kent Hospice in Reading or Michael Sobell House in Oxford. 

The proposal to provide a small number of specialist palliative beds at Wallingford Hospital would bring care closer to home for patients and their families and reduce the need for travel.