Heath care professionals have been encouraged to learn more about home care solutions to avoid unnecessary stress to patients.

Neil Edwards, husband of cancer victim Jayne Edwards (49) who died in September, has spoken out after his wife suffered unnecessary stress after being told she’d have to wait five weeks to have a stairlift fitted at home, when she knew she had less than that to live.

Acorn heard about Jayne’s plight through her local Gloucester media and installed a bespoke, curved stairlift the following day. Tragically, Jayne died of brain and breast cancer before being able to use the specialist device.

Neil, of Churchdown in Gloucestershire, has now called for better awareness amongst health care professionals of the options available to families who are wanting to care for relatives at home.

“It was my wife’s last wish to be able to get upstairs with dignity and relative ease when we were nursing her at home,” explained Neil. “When we were told by one supplier that we’d have a five week wait, we didn’t know any different – it was sheer luck that Acorn heard about our story.

“The health care professionals who supported us were fantastic, but if we’d have known that there were other options available, we’d have felt empowered to try elsewhere.”

Sue Ryder Clinical Nurse Specialist Valerie Bone who works in the community as part of a multi-disciplinary team to support patients who want to prolong their care at home, said it’s important that patients and their carers are advised on which medications, support services and equipment will make their lifestyle at home comfortable during an illness or the last stages of life.

“Patients can sometimes feel overwhelmed by the choices available and it is important to help them take the best decision to suit their personal needs. Too much choice can make it confusing and stressful for the patient,” she explains. “Being able to act quickly is important for patients with complex care and support needs and knowing that access to something as life enhancing as a stairlift the following day can be invaluable.”

She added: “Teams of healthcare professionals from occupational therapists to community nurses offer patients choice and control in order to meet their personal care needs. It’s important that those caring for any patients with mobility problems are aware of the options and know there are people and organisations available to help them move quickly.”

Jayne’s stairlift has now been donated to the Sue Ryder Hospice in Keighley, just miles from the Acorn manufacturing plant in Steeton, North Yorkshire. Company Secretary Dave Belmont said: “Healthcare professionals can advise patients that new Acorn stairlifts – whether straight or curved – can be installed using our FastTrack service as soon as the following day. We’re simply making medical professionals aware of the options available to their patients – who certainly never need to wait five weeks for a stairlift.”