In its response to the CCGs’ “engagement” exercise presenting options for the future of in-patient palliative care beds at the Pembridge Unit at St Charles’s Hospital, North Kensington, BPV strongly supports retaining this valuable end of life service and calls for the beds to be re-opened with appropriate consultant cover as soon as possible.
Although Pembridge is the main provider for in-patient hospice beds for Brent residents, we have been alarmed by the fact that a Review by hospice expert, Penny Hansford, was commissioned by three other boroughs and did not consider Brent needs at all. More recently various events and papers have included Brent but this has not put right the inherent bias of the whole exercise. Most people do not realise that although Brent also sends patients to St Lukes’ at Kenton it is not the main hospice for Brent.
There is no justification for any major change in local hospice provision. If there were it should be examined across all 8 CCGs now working together via a Joint Committee.
Robin Sharp, BPV Chair