The £100,000 award was given to the seven adult hospices in Sussex to provide hospice care to patients discharged from hospital.  The grant is shared between the hospices and will be used to help fund a Clinical Nurse Specialist in each hospice to provide patient care and support when people leave hospital. 

St Wilfrid’s Hospice, as one of the seven Hospices benefiting, has seen caseloads increase by 40% in the community during the pandemic, with more patients seen in crisis.

“We are delighted to accept this grant on behalf of the community nursing service team here at St Wilfrid’s whose expert care and compassion is needed by so many in our local community. This award recognises the work of hospices across Sussex is needed now more than ever as we aim to support people with end-of-life conditions, helping them to stay out of hospital and have a chance at more quality time together with their loved ones.” 

The grant has been made available as part of a programme to support NHS and healthcare charities dealing with the impact of COVID-19.  As part of the NHSCT Community Partnership grants programme it aims to reduce the stress on the NHS and to support the provision of wrap-around care for individuals and communities where it is vitally needed.  

“We are extremely grateful to NHS Charities Together for their support and funding. We are truly excited to be working with such fantastic organisations, to deliver projects across Sussex that will address health inequalities, suicide prevention and supported hospital discharge. We look forward to seeing the impact of these projects as they begin delivery over the coming months.” 

^{This is the first time that the group of Sussex Hospices have worked together for a joint grant. The seven hospices are: Martlets, St Barnabas House, St Catherine’s Hospice, St Michael’s Hospice, St Peter & St James Hospice and St Wilfrid’s Hospice Eastbourne and St Wilfrid’s Hospice Chichester.   The hospices are being supported by ‘Heads On’, the charity for the Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, who will co-ordinate and distribute the funding from NHS Charities Together.}   

^{The members of the Sussex Hospice collaboration provide care for the majority of their patients with life-limiting conditions in their own homes. In 2019/2020 before the impact of COVID-19 Sussex hospices made 52,486 home visits to 7,679 patients across Sussex. During the first 6 months of the pandemic there was an average 22% increase in demand for community services.  Hospice care supports families to look after loved ones with terminal illness at home providing expert medical care that includes symptom control and pain relief. The grant will specifically support ‘effective discharge’ from hospitals including preventing unnecessary and distressing re-admissions.}