A MEETING is being set up between South Scotland MSP Colin Smyth and Marie Curie directors in Scotland to discuss planned changes to the charity’s services in this region.
It follows their announcement that from the beginning of next year, and following discussions with NHS Dumfries and Galloway, there will be changes to Marie Curie’s Urgent Hospice Care at Home service, which will become a specialised palliative care telephone service.
It will be available for all palliative care patients living within the community, and will be available from 6 pm to midnight, seven nights a week.
A Marie Curie Nurse will speak to the patient and will undertake first line assessment, offer support and clinical advice, and arrange for emergency home visits from the NHS out-of-hours nurses if required.
However, the plans have alarmed many locally with a petition set up against it. It has now attracted 2087 signatures.
Mr Smyth has also been contacted by several concerned local residents.
He said: “I will be meeting with Marie Curie Scotland to discuss the move further.
“The Marie Curie Community Nursing Team in our region are invaluable to the many residents in Dumfries and Galloway who need end of life care. The work of Marie Curie has touched so many families in our region and has made an enormous difference at what is an enormously difficult time.
“Those undergoing palliative care, and their families, are already facing a hugely difficult time and it is completely understandable that many people are very worried about these planned changes.”
