LIFE and Time will begin delivering its services in the Mourne area at the end of this month.
The charity was set up six years ago to support patients at the end of their life who wish to die at home.
Initially it covered the Burren, Rostrevor and Warrenpoint area before expanding to serve the Hilltown, Mayobridge and Rathfriland areas too.
The end-of-life nursing charity has confirmed that it has added 23 new nurses to service the Mourne region – comprising Atticall, Annalong, Ballymartin, Kilkeel and Longstone.
The charity, a 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.
Following a period of community engagement and recruitment, this latest initiative will see the charity reach into the Mourne area, doubling its geographical span, supported by a team of 23 more nurses.
The charity aims to support each patient referred, providing care and symptom control at home, at the end of life, in line with what you might experience in a hospice or hospital setting.
The on-call service requires a GP referral and operates from 10pm to 8am, 365 days a year.
Dr Henry McLaughlin explained: “As awareness grew of the service we provide elsewhere, we had requests for support in the Mourne region, which we could not previously service without the local team in place.
“The addition of the Mourne region essentially doubles the size of the area that we service and we are delighted to welcome 23 new nurses.
“In advance of this we’ve spent some time meeting with GPs in the region and the district nursing team and the feedback has been very positive.”
Nurse manager Connie Connolly added: “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’.
“Through Life and Time, local people care for their own community.
“As we mark Palliative Care Week nationally, it’s wonderful to be able to confirm our services will be live by the end of September in the Mourne region.”
If you would like more information about the work of Life and Time, you can visit www.lifeandtimecare.org