Greenwich & Bexley Community Hospice Spring News 2023

I am delighted to be able to welcome you to this edition of our newsletter with not one, but two pieces of great news that we are incredibly proud of here at Greenwich & Bexley Community Hospice.

The first is that our Care Quality Commission (CQC) rating is back in, and we’ve been awarded ‘Good’ overall with ‘Outstanding’ within the ‘Well-led’ category. This is testament to the passion and dedication shown by our staff and volunteers, who each and every day come together to provide care and support people across the boroughs of Royal Greenwich & Bexley.

The other piece of news is that we have been awarded a Certificate of Excellence by ‘iWantGreatCare’. This recognition is particularly moving, as the award is based entirely on patient and family feedback, who are and always will be, at the heart of everything we do across our hospice services. To have such wonderful feedback from the people we serve and support, truly means the world to us.

None of this would be possible without your support and for that, we are all incredibly grateful.

I hope you enjoy reading all about our upcoming events, incredible patient and supporter stories, staff profiles and much more.

As always, thank you for all you do.

Kate Heaps, CEO

Meet our hospital team

Every year we support around 3,000 people, much of this care being offered in the community.

This could be at home or in a care home for example, and we also have a whole team of people working at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Woolwich. Their mission is simple: to provide the best possible support to patients and families who are facing terminal illness when being cared for in hospital.

The nurses, doctors and the wider multi-professional team, with specialist qualifications in palliative care, are all dedicated to helping patients live their lives to the fullest, exploring patient wishes, making sure symptoms are controlled, and that families and carers feel well informed and confident their loved one is being looked after.

‘Our team are often a person’s first introduction to hospice care, helping people find out about what to expect and what’s available when they get home.’

They are on hand following a referral from the ward consultant and give advice around difficult symptoms, help patients to get home or to the hospice safely, and to support people to make decisions around their future wishes.

We think it’s very important to make sure that care is continuous, and as seamless as possible. We understand how difficult it can be living with a terminal illness, or caring for someone who is. Our hospital team are on hand to take some of that stress from people, helping to streamline the care received in hospital and assisting in the transition of care when they leave to go back to their home or care home. This means that patients and families have time to spend together without those additional worries.

Natalie Moseley,

a Clinical

Nurse

Specialist and Hospital Team Leader says: ‘Working and providing palliative care at the hospital can be challenging yet so very rewarding. For many of our patients it is the first time they have been involved with palliative care and this can cause great fear and anxiety. Patients may have complex needs, and require help with being discharged so that they may live well until they die. We work alongside the treating team – often delivering parallel care to achieve the very best for our patients and their families.’

Feeling more like me

When local postman, 64-year-old Andy, was diagnosed with stage 4 bowel cancer in January 2022, he thought that the hospice was ‘like room 101. Where people just go to die.’ Luckily, he’s changed his mind. Andy and his wife of 36 years, Jayne, kindly took the time to tell us about their experiences.

‘It was when I was at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Woolwich that I met Jolomi (a doctor in the hospice’s palliative care team based at the hospital). She was brilliant. She explained everything the hospice could do to help me in detail, gently, and said to think about it, there was no pressure, I could go as and when I felt ready to. The cancer had progressed more quickly than expected; it was daunting and premature. Jolomi helped

me to understand that at the hospice it’s about the person, not simply the ‘patient’.

‘I basically thought I was just going to the hospice to die and I accepted that. But how wrong was I?

When I got there I was met by a doctor who talked to me for a full 40 minutes. He was very in-depth, and holistic; he wasn’t just asking me about my illness and medication, but also how I felt, what I expected and wanted. We live down

‘I basically thought I was just going to the hospice to die and I accepted that. But how wrong was I?’

Greenwich & Bexley Community Hospice

the road, and my sister died here, and yet I don’t think we really understood what palliative care meant until now.

We both knew I was in capable hands

‘From the first night it was just bliss, so calm and I had great care from all the staff there. Jayne and I were both just able to relax. She stayed the first few nights with me, but when she was at home, she knew I’d be safe and her mind was at rest knowing I’d be looked

after. We both knew I was in capable hands and the team were so quick to deal with any issues that came up. I loved being there compared to the hospital as it was so serene; not boring, but serene. People could take pets for a visit, take an instrument in to play, have a drink if they wanted. The grounds are beautiful and over the week and half of my visit they looked after me and my wife on a holistic level, making sure we were both ok mentally and physically.

‘We both knew I was in capable hands and the team were so quick to deal with any issues that came up.’

The Physio got me out of my bed for walks and the food was all home cooked in the hospice, threecourse meals. The food there is amazing, and they made whatever I like! The chef got to know everyone, and what we all liked to eat. Jayne and I say it’s like a medical hotel.

‘Whilst there they reviewed my medication and I’m now more alert, feeling more like me. Basically, the hospice got me well enough to go home and I now have the hospice community nurse and carers coming to visit me.

‘My main point is, if anyone else is in a similar position to me, do not fear the idea of a hospice. I wish to dispel any misapprehensions you may have like I did. I was 100% wrong in my attitude, vision and thoughts of what a hospice is. So many people go there for a short stay to get well enough to go home and do not die there. So I’d say don’t fear the hospice. You’ll be looked after; you’ll have dignity and care and rest.’

Have you heard about Compassionate Neighbours?

It’s a programme that introduces trained volunteers to people in their local area who have become isolated or lonely, and/or who are nearing end of life due to old age or illness.

Here at Greenwich & Bexley Community Hospice our Compassionate Neighbours programme is now approaching its fifth birthday.

Since we began, we’ve trained around 270 volunteers, many of whom have gone on to become Compassionate Neighbours, visiting people in their community, which we’re incredibly proud of. Over the coming

Because everyone should have a friend

months, we want to train even more people. Could that include you?

How does it work?

Anyone can train to become a Compassionate Neighbour. We welcome people of all ages and from all walks of life. All we ask is that volunteers can spare an hour a week to build a friendship with someone who can benefit from the support and some social interaction. Once trained, our volunteers are matched with someone in their local area – often within walking distance. Matches are typically based on where you live, shared hobbies and interests, or backgrounds. When a match is made, we’ll make the introductions and from then the new friendship can blossom. We’re not prescriptive, so our matches decide how to spend their time together. It’s a great way to meet new people in

Greenwich & Bexley Community Hospice

WHAT YOU COULD DO WITH YOUR FRIEND:

A gentle walk in the park for fresh air or to admire the views

Cuppa and a chat, putting the world to rights

Chats about a shared interest; maybe the latest celebrity gossip or football results

Provide a friendly listening ear

Go to an art class, or learn a new skill together

‘We’ve seen lots of Compassionate Neighbours becoming true friends with the people we introduce them to.’

your local community.

Jon Devlin is an Associate Director at the hospice and leads our Compassionate Neighbours work. He explained ‘The programme is a great way to connect people who can offer support and interaction, with those who need it. It has wider-reaching benefits too because it can also connect the hospice with people who may need our care in the future.

‘In the five years that we’ve been delivering the training, we’ve seen lots of Compassionate Neighbours becoming true friends with the people we introduce

Can you offer friendship or a listening ear to someone in the community who needs it?

them to.

‘We believe that everyone who is dying should have a friend. We want to see the programme grow because there so many more people who would benefit if support was offered to them.’

Jon adds ‘Care and support is about more than just symptom management – and in many cases, having company can change people’s lives. It can give them something to look forward to and re-engage them in the things that were important to them but have been difficult to keep going.’

If you have an hour to spare a week and can offer friendship or a listening ear to a lonely or isolated person in your area, please contact us. We run training courses throughout the year and we’ll take you through everything you need to know. Email cn@gbch.org.uk or visit communityhospice.org.uk/cn.

We’d love to

GREENWICH & BEXLEY COMMUNITY HOSPICE STRATEGY 2022-27

We spoke to the hospice’s new Community Development and Engagement Manager, Simran Kaur, about the hospice’s plans.

Why is this work important for the hospice now?

‘We want to make sure that the services that we provide now and in the future are reflective of everyone living around us, and not just those members of the community that we’ve historically seen under our care.

‘For example, the latest Census (2021) revealed that among the largest ethnic groups in The Royal Borough of Greenwich are the Nigerian, Vietnamese and Nepalese communities. And whilst we have one of the largest Nigerian populations in the UK right here on our doorstep, at the moment we don’t see that reflection of the community in the people that we care for every day. In other words, although they may need our help, fewer people from these and other prominent communities are aware of or seeking out our help.’

love to hear from YOU

In 2022, the hospice launched its new strategy which outlines how we will transform our services over the next five years, to ensure we’re providing the best possible support to everyone in our local community who needs it.

It’s an exciting challenge and a key part of how we achieve this is to make sure that we’re well placed to listen to the many voices that make up our diverse community. This means we’ll be able to better understand all of the very different needs locally, and the services people may want and need from the hospice both now and in the future.

We’re here for everyone who needs us

‘This is the most important message. We’re here for you, whoever you may be. It’s important to us that people know about us, that local people understand our work and that we’re here for everyone in the community who may need our care either now or in the future. So we want to make sure we provide culturally appropriate care and are doing all that we can to engage with all sections of our community in both Greenwich and Bexley.’

Listening to and understanding our communities

Since joining the hospice team in January 2022, Simran has begun an outreach programme to build strong relationships with local community groups and businesses.

‘A great part of the work I do is around strengthening links between the hospice and our communities. ‘Bridging the gaps’, listening to and understanding people’s

needs and priorities so that we can work more closely together and make sure everyone knows that we are here for them.

‘It’s really inspiring to have the opportunity to go out into the community and meet with so many different community groups and really get under the skin of the work they do and what’s important to them. I don’t go to ask for anything, I simply listen to concerns, and find out ways in which we can work together and offer support to those who need it.’

We want to hear from you

‘It’s very important to use your voice because the community is about you, the individual. The hospice is about the people that we care for and support every day and we need to make sure everyone is able to influence what we do and how we do it.’

Your voice is important and can help us transform services and make a difference. We welcome anyone who wants to share their story or feedback with us

If you’re involved in a local community group in Greenwich or Bexley and would like to discuss the ways that we might be able to support you or those close to you, or would like to find out more about our community engagement work, please contact simrankaur@gbch.org.uk.

This could be YOU!

IMAGINE THIS ADVENTURE NEXT NOVEMBER 2024:

FLY TO MARRAKESH where you’ll spend your first night in the breathtaking Atlas mountains.

As we prepare to turn 30 next year (lots more information about how we’re going to mark the occasion coming up in our next newsletter) we thought we should pull out all the stops for our next fundraising challenge.

SPEND THE NEXT DAY HEADING DOWN TO THE SAHARA DESERT, where you’ll be met with your support crew and local guides who will be with their camels, ready to guide you through the desert.

TREK THROUGH MILES OF NATURAL BEAUTY FOR TWO DAYS, admiring sand dunes and the occasional oasis, camping under the stars each night.

CELEBRATE YOUR INCREDIBLE ACHIEVEMENT WITH YOUR GROUP IN MARRAKESH before heading back to London with incredible memories and having raised money for Greenwich & Bexley Community Hospice.

And so we’d like to tell you all about it: How do you feel about taking on the journey of a lifetime and trekking through the Sahara Desert? All whilst raising money to support the hospice.

YOU CAN READ MORE OVER ON OUR WEBSITE

COSTS: The registration fee is £325 per person and we’re asking adventurers to raise a minimum of £1900 each.

INTERESTED? Please contact Michael Fyall, our Challenge Events Fundraiser on michaelfyall@gbch.org.uk or call him on 020 8319 9230. He’ll be delighted to hear from you and happy to answer any questions.

Registered Charity No. 1017406. A company limited by guarantee. Registered in England and Wales No. 2747475.

This trip is operated by The Different Travel Company (ATOL 6706) on behalf of Greenwich & Bexley Community Hospice (Registered Charity No. 1017406). The flights in this brochure are financially protected by the ATOL scheme. When you pay you will be supplied with an ATOL Certificate. Please ask for it and check to ensure that everything you booked (flights, hotels and other services) is listed on it. Please see our booking conditions for further information or for more information about financial protection and the ATOL Certificate go to: www.caa.co.uk.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY 2023

We have SO much to look forward to this summer and we’re hoping you can join us!

SKYDIVES, WING WALKS AND ABSEILS

CHOOSE YOUR OWN DATE

Are you a daredevil who enjoys an adrenaline rush?

Registration fee and minimum fundraising pledge apply

BUNGEE JUMP

SATURDAY 3RD & SUNDAY 4TH JUNE

Can you see yourself taking the plunge and braving the bounce to support special hospice care?

Registration fee: £99 with £150 minimum fundraising pledge

HOSPICE QUIZ NIGHT

WEDNESDAY 28TH JUNE

Bring your own drinks and nibbles and settle down for a great evening out. Teams of up to eight.

Tickets: £5 per person, advanced booking only

BOOGIE WONDERLAND

FRIDAY 7TH JULY

Our band of DJs will be playing the finest selection of soul, funk, and disco classics. Boogie Wonderland nights have all been sell-out events so book your tickets now!

Tickets: £12 per person

ASICS 10K

SUNDAY 9TH JULY

Join our awesome ASICS 10K team and run past London’s most famous landmarks including Big Ben, The London Eye and the River Thames.

Registration fee: £35 with £150 minimum fundraising pledge

COLOUR RUN PARTY

SUNDAY 24TH SEPTEMBER

Join the hundreds of colour

‘runners’ as they walk, jog or dance the 5K route through colourful clouds of powder paint!

Registration fee: Adults £20, Children £15, under 5s Free, family ticket (2 adults, 2 children) £60

ROYAL PARKS HALF MARATHON

SUNDAY 8TH OCTOBER

The 13.1 mile course passes iconic landmarks such as Buckingham Palace and four out of eight of the Royal Parks – Hyde Park, The Green Park, St James’s Park and Kensington Gardens.

Registration fee: £30 with £350 fundraising target

OPEN GARDENS FESTIVAL

10TH-11TH & 24TH-25TH JUNE

Join our host of garden owners across Charlton, Blackheath, Greenwich, Lee and Eltham as they open their gates to the public.

communityhospice.org.uk/supportus/events/open-gardens-festival



Sign up to these events and more at communityahospice.org.uk/support-us/events

Our Mini Marathon superstar, Tayden

Nine-year-old Tayden Matthews is what you could call a bit of a hero. This year was his fifth time taking part in the Hospice Mini Marathon! Yep, for half his life, he’s been an avid partaker in our annual running event for children, and why?

‘Because it means I can help people who aren’t as fortunate as me’ he said.

Tayden’s grandad, Terrence, was supported by Greenwich & Bexley Community Hospice to die at home when Tayden was just four. ‘When my grandad passed away, the hospice helped him,’ Tayden told us, ‘I still remember him. He was really fun.’

Tayden must take after his grandad on the fun stakes, as he loves nothing more than getting dressed up and putting a smile on everyone’s faces. During lockdown he donned lots of different outfits and his mum, Laura, sent photos to loved ones when they couldn’t see each other.

Lockdown didn’t stop Tayden from taking part in the Hospice Mini Marathon, this time running round Plumstead Common to raise money for this hospice. In fact, he said, he liked it

because ‘there weren’t many people which meant I could go faster.’

In his first few years of taking part the young athlete would run with his dad, Terry, but last year insisted on taking the challenge by himself. ‘I did it in 20 minutes – dad was going too slow before,’ he said. His victory was even sweeter when he won the best costume competition as he dressed up as a surgeon! He said his reason for this was to ‘raise awareness of the NHS and show how important it is.’

‘I think that first of all, running the Hospice Mini Marathon was about grandad, but then I think about all the other people who need support from the hospice and all the people that use the hospice.

Tayden, we think you’re an absolute star!

‘I did it in 20 minutes – dad was going too slow’

‘Knowing Teresa was so well looked after gave us real peace of mind…’

Louise Smith, 43, from Bexleyheath, lost her beloved older sister Teresa Ash to cancer in January 2022. She says the care not just Teresa, but the whole family, received from the hospice in the last months of her life was incredible. Since Teresa’s death her loved ones have raised almost £15,000 for the hospice.

‘Through the years my sister Teresa was always there for me. Kind and protective, she soon sorted things out if I had any trouble at school, and when I became a mum was on hand to help.

‘After having her son Luke, who her life revolved around, she became a nanny working with the same family for many years and then for a local preschool. Helping children to thrive was Teresa’s passion in life and she absolutely loved her job. She touched so many people’s lives.

‘Teresa was very fun-loving and warm. She was giving and unselfish – she’d spend a hundred pounds to buy you a present you’d always wanted but wanted nothing in return. She was godmother to both my girls, Chloe and Jessica, and they adored her.

‘Teresa was very close to our parents Mary and Richard, our older brother Jason and his three sons. Dad sadly passed away after a long illness, but Teresa had helped to care for him and was a huge support to Mum.

‘When Teresa was diagnosed with cancer herself it came as a huge shock. She wasn’t one to make a fuss and by the time she found out, it was advanced. She had treatment to try to get it under control, but not much could be done. From the start she was so brave, taking it all in her stride, never once feeling sorry for herself.

‘The hospice became involved with Teresa’s care a couple of months before she died. The lovely community nursing team came out whenever she needed support, helping to get her pain under control and putting in place a bespoke care plan.

‘We knew we could call them at any time and that was so helpful – you just felt supported.

‘Teresa’s aim had been to get to Christmas. We were able to go away on a belated holiday to celebrate her 50th birthday and she spent Christmas at home with all the family. I’m so grateful we had that time with her.

‘A few days later Teresa went into the hospice’s Inpatient Unit. The care she received was really personal, fitted around what was important to her. Everyone is so welcoming and the care they offer isn’t just about the patient. They understand that terminal illness is difficult for everyone. There was always someone to offer us a cuppa or ask how we were, and they also helped us to have difficult but important conversations.

‘Knowing Teresa was so well

Roses to Remember

looked after gave those who loved her peace of mind. We could spend quality time with her when it mattered most. She slipped away peacefully with Mum at her bedside.

‘The staff were so amazing. Seeing how Teresa was cared for makes you realise that hospices are actually about people achieving the best quality of life they can, for as long as they can.

Mum, Luke and a very proud Teresa celebrating Luke’s Graduation

‘One of the ways we have supported the hospice since was through their Roses to Remember campaign last summer. We purchased steel roses in memory of Teresa and have proudly displayed these in our garden after we saw them on display in the hospice gardens.

Teresa’s nieces remembering their aunt

‘This year, I hope you will join me in remembering your loved ones and buying a rose to remember them too.’

TO DEDICATE A ROSE, simply head to: communityhospice.org.uk/roses FOR MORE INFORMATION about our Roses to Remember please contact Jackie Smith on 020 8320 5785 or jackiesmith@gbch.org.uk 2 JULY 10am-3pm

GBCH Spring 2023 Newsletter A5 ARTWORK.indd 15 02/05/2023 10:21

Our last Christmas

6 of our patients are

A Will is a reflection of your life and your wishes and it allows you to provide for your family and friends and leave a gift to your chosen charities too. Please consider leaving Greenwich & Bexley Community Hospice a gift in your Will and help us to continue to be there for the people that need us. Gifts of all sizes make a difference, each one is needed and very much appreciated.

thanks to people who remembered the hospice in their Will For more information please visit communityhospice.org.uk/leave-a-gift-in-your-will