Rayleigh and Wickford MP, Mark Francois, recently met the new One Response Team, who provide 24hr support and advice for carers dealing with patients who are in their last years of life, when he visited their base at St Luke’s Hospice in Basildon recently. The new team mans the phones 24hrs a day, 365 days a year and helps to provide support for anyone diagnosed with palliative or end of life care needs in the lasts year of life, including people with advanced dementia.
During his visit, the team explained to Mark that they had often received calls in the middle of the night from carers of those suffering with end of life issues and the team were able to provide reassurance and assistance in the small hours. The team members were also available to conduct visits at short notice where this is required. Mark met the team as part of a tour of St Luke’s Hospice, which covers clients across much of South Essex, including Mark’s own constituency of Rayleigh and Wickford.
Commenting on his visit, Mark Francois said:
"I have been a great admirer of St Luke’s for many years and it was great to be able to go back and see them again and, in particular, to meet the members of the One Response Team, who have been going since last year and who provide a wonderful 24hr service for those people who need help and advice in dealing with patients with end of life issues or advanced dementia. I was pleased to have an opportunity to thank the team for what they do in helping to provide a really valuable community resource and one which we can all be proud of."