LIFE and Time Care, the end-oflife nursing charity, is set to expand its services into the Mourne area. The charity has held a series of public meetings – in Atticall, Annalong and Kilkeel – to discuss its plans. More than 80 people from the local community attended the most recent meeting, held in Kilkeel last Wednesday night (30 August). After the meeting in the Kilmorey Arms Hotel, the charity thanked everyone for showing interest and, in a social media post, added: ‘It looks like a new Mourne team won’t be far away’. The area that would be covered by the expanded service comprises Atticall, Annalong, Ballymartin, Kilkeel and Longstone.
The charity and registered nursing agency was first founded in 2018 by Dr Henry McLaughlin, supported by a dedicated voluntary committee, to provide specialist ‘end of life’ on-call nursing services, initially to families in Warrenpoint, Burren and Rostrevor. Demand grew and in 2021 the charity expanded its services to Hilltown, Rathfriland and Mayobridge, delivered through a network of 46 local nurses. This latest initiative will see the charity reach into the Mourne area, further expanding its footprint of support services.
The charity’s aim is to support the family and patient, providing care and symptom control at home, at end of life, in line with what a patient might experience in a hospice or hospital setting. The on-call service operates from 10pm to 8am. “As awareness grows of the services we provide elsewhere, we’ve had enquiries and requests for support in the Mourne region,” Dr Henry McLaughlin explained. “We’ve had some initial discussions with GPs in the region and the district nursing team and the feedback has been very positive. “Our model is unique; in that it is based on recruiting nurses who live in the local area so that our response rates can be most effective for our ‘on-call service’.”
The recent meetings in Atticall, Annalong and Kilkeel gave local people a chance to find out more about Life and Time Care and how the charity can support local people in those late-night hours which can often be difficult for anyone caring for a loved one at home, at end of life. “We’re also keen to hear from local nurses who may be interested in becoming part of our dedicated team of on-call nurses,” Dr McLaughlin added.