FAMILIES of children with serious medical conditions will benefit from new services in Swindon and North Wiltshire after three new specialist nurses started work in the area.

The new nurses will initially be funded by Naomi House Children’s Hospice and based at the Great Western Hospital in Swindon. The nurses are from South West-based children’s charity Jessie May and will provide care to children with life-limiting conditions within their own homes.

The care includes regular respite breaks as well as clinical care, allowing parents or carers to take a much-needed break. There will also be more intensive support available for families when a child is at the end of their life as well as continued support for the family afterwards in bereavement.

Jo Conroy, who will lead the team, is a senior nurse with 17 years of experience supporting and caring for children with complex needs in the West Midlands. She will be joined by Mary Hunt and Sam Robson both qualified and experienced children’s nurses.

Jo said: “I am really excited to be starting this new service which I know will make a huge difference to the children and their families in Swindon and Wiltshire.”

Chris Roys, CEO of Jessie May, said: “This is a unique partnership between Jessie May, Naomi House Children’s Hospice and the Great Western Hospital. I am really inspired by the way that all three have put the needs of children right at the heart of this service and we are all committed to providing the best service possible for families.

“By being based in the Great Western Hospital the nurses will form strong relationships with the health professionals who provide acute care when these children are first diagnosed and at other times during their lives. It will create a bridge between hospital and home, making the family’s life much easier."

Naomi House Children’s Hospice has supported children and families from Swindon and Wiltshire for many years, and is committed to providing families with a flexible and comprehensive service that includes support in the home in addition to the care and support available at the hospice.

Naomi House has provided the initial funding to establish the service with the nurses also linking closely with the hospice to enable a seamless service to be provided.

Mark Smith, Naomi’s House Children’s Hospice CEO, said: “Families that we support have told us how much they need this help at home and we are delighted to not only provide the initial funding, but to be working together with Jessie May and the Great Western Hospital, with whom we share common values and approach.”

Sarah Merritt, Divisional Director of Nursing in the Women & Children’s Division at Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We are privileged to be working with two leading hospice organisations that make a massive difference to local children and their families at extremely difficult times. This enhanced new service will help us to provide more flexible, high quality and personalised care to local families and we look forward to seeing the difference it will make.”