MARIE Curie staff from the Cardiff and Vale Hospice in Penarth are being redeployed to provide support in the palliative care unit at the Dragon's Heart field hospital in Cardiff.

Nurses, doctors and allied health professionals will work with the Cardiff and Vale University Health Board at the temporary hospital in the Principality Stadium and meet the needs of more people who are dying.

The two organisations have also worked together to develop a plan to expand home care, meaning more people with a terminal illness will be cared for by hospice staff in their own homes.

Sarah-Lloyd-Davies, manager of the Cardiff and Vale Hospice, said that inpatient care at the hospice would be temporarily suspended in order to facilitate these new arrangements.

“This new way of working will build on existing services that are delivered in partnership and will support additional patients and their loved ones in their home, or at the Dragon’s Heart to ensure a comfortable and dignified end of life experience", she said.

“A number of staff will remain at the hospice to provide support to all our clinical teams during this time".

Andrew Wilson-Mouasher, divisional general manager for Marie Curie in Wales said: “It has never been more important for services to work together.

"More people than ever will need the support and expertise of the hospice staff over the coming weeks and months.

“Marie Curie staff will continue to be employed by the charity and receive salary and support from the organisation.

"The Cardiff and the Vale Hospice will need to be maintained by Marie Curie during this time for health and safety reasons, and therefore the charity will still need fundraising income.

"Marie Curie is grateful for the support of all those who have and continue to support their Emergency Fundraising Appeal, and hope generous supporters are able to continue helping the charity’s campaign at this difficult time.

"I am immensely proud of the Marie Curie team in Cardiff and the Vale and across Wales and thank them for their professionalism and dedication to the care of people who are dying".

Kay Jeynes, Director of Nursing, Primary Community and Intermediate Care at the Cardiff and Vale Health Board said she was pleased the two organisations have been able to continue to work together at such a difficult time.

“Our well established partnership work with Marie Curie has allowed us to have an open discussion about the best way in which experienced and compassionate staff can deliver end of life care to the patients of Marie Curie and NHS staff during this unprecedented health crisis.

“Thank you to Marie Curie for working with us in the NHS to provide vital support at such a critical time.”