SIX charities in Gloucestershire are working together to support people who wish to die at home rather than in hospital.

Last year three of the six charities – Longfield, Sue Ryder and Fairford League of Friends Home Nursing – provided more than 21,000 hours of hospice at home care in people’s own homes.

The average cost of a visit from a hospice at home nurse in someone’s home is £120 compared with £3,200 the average cost of admitting someone to hospital.

The three work with Great Oaks Dean Forest Hospice, Kate’s Home Nursing and Campden Home Nursing to provide county wide care along with Marie Curie

Longfield, the largest hospice at home group in the county, provided more than 16,000 hours of hospice at home care in people’s homes.

“Working together is crucial to ensure people get the care they need,” said Andrew Fletcher, chief executive of Longfield.

“In these times when we hear media reports about care providers on spending only 15 minutes with someone, it’s important to know that is not the case with hospice at home teams.

“Ours is an individual service, and we take time with patients to make sure they get the support they need when they need it most.”

The six hospice at home teams meet monthly to talk about issues and offer peer support.

Sue Ryder, which launched its hospice at home service last year, has been working closely with Longfield.

Heather Mitchell, hospice at home manager at Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice, said: “Our vision is for everyone to have the real opportunity to get the care they want at the end of their lives.

“By working together we can make sure no area of the county is without access to person centred palliative and end of life care, so we can make that wish a reality.”

More than 62 per cent of people in Gloucestershire would prefer to die at home. At the moment only 23.5 per cent of those people are able to do so.

“It isn’t a surprise that the majority of us would rather die in our own home surrounded by those who love us, yet there is still a great unmet need in the county,” said Mr Fletcher.

“That is why Longfield and the other charities are working so closely together to provide that support so that people have a choice in where they die.”