Palliative Care

Friends of Vellore were delighted to respond to CMC’s request in 2004 to establish a palliative home care programme. CMC were determined that the healing ministry should extend to those who were terminally ill and beyond medical support but yet needed compassionate care and love at the end of their lives.

With the help of some generous gifts, Friends of Vellore UK provided a vehicle and continue to fund fuel costs and subsidise medications for the Home Care Programme which cares for those in their home who are unable to travel to hospital.

The Palliative Home Care Team travel within a 50km radius of Vellore to visit patients and their families at this bleak time. About 150 patients a year are provided with pain relief and other medication, and the family and community are guided in how best to support the patient. Most of the patients are very poor, often the nature of their illness causes prejudice and some are even abused. These visits are a hugely appreciated by patients and their families as they ensure good symptom control and a better quality of life.

CMC make visits on two days of the week; one day is a nurse-led home visit and on the second day, the doctor joins the nurse and social worker. When possible and needed the chaplain and psychologist also join in to visit the patient at home. The 9-seater vehicle has helped the team, trainees and observers to cover difficult terrains to reach patients.

There is effectively no income from this service so the travel, drugs and staff time must be paid for. A contribution to Palliative Care will ensure that a terminally ill patient and their family are supported at a critical time. Friends of Vellore sent £4,341 in 2024 to cover the running costs of the vehicle, medication and supplies such as mattresses, incontinence pads and mosquito nets.

The Palliative care team also help families who may have lost a bread winner to return to a sustainable lifestyle and generate income. A number of donors have kindly helped families set up small businesses or helped with the cost of children going to school. In 2024 Friends of Vellore UK sent an additional £2,419 to the Palliative Home Care Team to enable them to cover the cost of home repairs, basic food supplies and other sundry items that would be of great benefit to their patients or bereaved families who otherwise have no financial resources to meet these costs.

Only about 3% of Indians have access to palliative care so the unit seeks to promote palliative care practice in India as well as extending knowledge in Vellore.