Pilot aims to improve end-of-life care in city

MORE TO SPEND FINAL DAYS AT MOUNT GOULD HOSPITAL

- ALISON STEPHENSON

PLYMOUTH is working to improve its end-of-life care for residents so they can die with dignity. And city leaders want people to be comfortable talking about death.

More patients have been able to spend their last days in a small community hospital at Mount Gould rather than the emergency department or other wards at Derriford.

The number of end-of-life beds at Mount Gould will double to eight over the next few months so 36 people a month can be cared for. A pilot project has been running in the Estover part of the city, where there is a high proportion of people over the age of 65 living in social housing.