Severn Hospice reports rise in patient numbers
A Shropshire and Mid Wales charity has reported a significant increase in the number of patients it has cared for in the past year.
Severn Hospice has seen a 21 per cent increase in demand for its services in the last 12 months.
More patients than ever have benefited from the specialist care the charity provides across Shropshire and North Powys.
Latest figures show 1,907 people living with incurable illnesses such as cancer were referred to the hospice between April 2012 and March 2013. This is compared to 1,572 in the previous year.
Dr Derek Willis, lead consultant at Severn Hospice, said: “We have seen a dramatic rise in the number of people being referred to the hospice over the last year and this trend is set to continue. We are fortunate in that a full specialist service is available to local people but even with a recent expansion our medical team, our services are working extremely hard just to keep up with demand.
“There are a number of contributing factors to the increase including the expansion of our work out in the community. In 2012 our team of Clinical Nurse Specialists was boosted by the arrival of all the former MacMillan Community Nurses who now come under the management and funding of the hospice.
“With such a large increase in the number of patients needing our care we are relying even more on the generosity of our supporters to help us continue to support local people at their time of greatest need.
“There are a number of ways people can support the hospice either by taking part in one of our many events, playing our Lottery, donating goods to our shops or by leaving the hospice a gift in their will. Without the support of so many people we would not be able to care for the growing number of people that need our help.”
