Spreading Compassion and Care Beyond Our Walls: Launching Our Hospice Community Outreach Program

Teesside Hospice “Community Outreach” will be the first of its kind in the area for people living with a life limiting illness - a holistic palliative care service which will primarily serve the areas of Redcar and East Cleveland. Based at West Dyke Road Hospital, Redcar this is planned to be a long-term service.

There will be a Hub offering free organised hospice services which are not available elsewhere, with hospice health professionals, nurses available who can deliver palliative care and support. With referrals from the wider NHS system working in collaboration with Teesside Hospice. 

These services will include pain and symptom management, therapy sessions, counselling, education, and support. Giving psychosocial empowerment for the person to “be in charge” of their illness so that they can go on and make the most of their lives.

We already have good relationships with the wider NHS, but this Outreach Centre will extend and improve service delivery, for example by working with local community groups, health professionals and Macmillan.

Our work differs from that offered by the NHS. Teesside Hospice is the only provider of these services in the area receiving 31% of its funding from the NHS and the remainder raised by our in-house fundraising team. Our patient’s mental health, as well as physical needs are met because of the holistic palliative care we provide. We reduce GP visits, hospital admissions and strain on other NHS services.

Our services impact on the whole family by providing supporting for carers who are often unseen within the communities, their families and loved ones. As a result, we continue to reduce strain on other services through our interventions such as counselling.

By the end of 2023, we’ll  have increased the accessibility of our services significantly in the Teesside area. Ensuring those who need our care the most, receive it.

Our Community Outreach will not only provide services to those living with a life limiting illness but also support to their families and carers: 

• Befriending & connecting projects to address loneliness 
• Sessions to improve mental health 
• Pain and symptom management 
• Face to face practical support 
• Improve accessibility

Locations: Skelton Civic Hall, Skelton, TS12 2HP; 25k Community Centre, Redcar, TS10 4LR