New consultant to support Hospice and hospital patients

A new consultant at St Nicholas Hospice Care and West Suffolk Hospital is set to bring benefit to more patients in need of palliative care.

Dr Mary McGregor, who is employed by the Hospice as a Consultant in Palliative Medicine, will be supporting both Hospice patients and those at the hospital needing end-of-life care.

Mary and her colleague Dr Sarah Mollart, the Hospice’s existing Consultant in Palliative Medicine, will between them offer daily support to West Suffolk Hospital alongside their work at St Nicholas Hospice Care.

Mary, who started her new role in April, said: “Sarah and I are looking forward to the Hospice and hospital teams working together more closely and see this as a fantastic opportunity to ensure the best care and support is offered to those who need us.

“The aim is that we are a cohesive team and there will be a more consistent consultant presence in the hospital to support the excellent nursing team that’s already there. We hope it will make discharging patients with complex needs from hospital a more seamless process, due to the join-up between the two teams.”

Mary has just finished her specialist training, which she undertook in South Yorkshire.

Barbara Gale, St Nicholas Hospice Care Chief Executive, said: “Our Consultants will be involved in all aspects of patient care and will provide expert clinical input into the future development of Hospice services.

“Linking St Nicholas Hospice Care and West Suffolk Hospital in this way should mean better care for our patients wherever they are and also provide valuable peer support for doctors in the hospital.”

Dr Pamela Chrispin, Medical Director at West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We are committed to providing the best possible care for patients and their families as they near the end of their lives, and are delighted that Mary has started work and is already making a difference.

“Having our palliative care consultants working in both the Hospice and the hospital, we will be able to further improve the support we provide while also making sure our patients receive consistent and seamless services and the care of their choice at a difficult time.”