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Palliative care beds to be reinstated in hospital

Laura CoffeyNorthamptonshire political reporter
Google The outside of Danetre Hospital. A white curved stucco building with a row out windows with blue panelling. The words "Danetre Hospital" are written above the windows in blue paint. Google
NHFT also has palliative care beds at Cynthia Spencer and Cransley hospices

Palliative care beds are being reinstated in a hospital for end-of-life patients, an NHS trust has said.

In May, Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (NHFT) said six beds at Danetre Hospital in Daventry had been temporarily taken out of use for end-of-life patients due to an "unexpected shortfall in consultant cover".

The trust said the beds were reassigned for patients in rehabilitation but it was now working on restoring its palliative care service, but did not give a timeframe of when the beds would be available.

NHFT said: "We apologise for any concerns caused by this temporary change to our service at Daventry and thank the local community for their understanding."

Danetre Hospital was rebuilt in 2006 and includes community beds, therapy services and mental health services.

Stuart Andrew, Daventry MP and Conservative shadow health secretary, met with Itai Matumbike, the chief medical officer at NHFT, and said he was informed an interim consultant was now in place and services would be restored.

Andrew said: "Palliative care is incredibly important for families, and I recognise how essential compassionate, local care is during the most difficult times in people's lives.

"I was assured that the trust's strategy is to strengthen community-based care at the hospital, which will help reduce pressure on acute hospitals and improve care closer to home."

Michele Bates A dog sits with its tongue out and wearing a harness. A woman with a black jacket and glasses is holding onto the dog and leaning forward. Next to her in the hospital bed is a man wearing a blue cardigan, bright T-shirt and checked trousers.Michele Bates
Michele Bates (L) with her partner Peter Blewer (R) and their dog Summer

Michele Bates' partner Peter Blewer had terminal cancer and spent a month in the palliative care unit at Danetre Hospital in Daventry earlier this year.

Michele, 64, said: "I used to visit him three times a day. It was a two-mile round journey, had he been in Northampton it would have been a 40-mile round journey. Visiting him three times a day would have been impossible."

Peter was in the palliative ward between 14 February and 15 March this year, when he died aged 72.

She added: "It is a wonderful ward, so clean, the staff are fabulous, very compassionate and caring, the care he was given was second to none."

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