Our Hospice Consultants

Liz

Liz Stear, is Wirral Hospice St John’s first Motor Neurone Disease (MND) key worker for Wirral (and Ellesmere Port). Liz previously supported many families around Wirral working a varied and diverse caseload as a specialist community public health nurse. Now she links with all the local health and social care agencies on behalf of all the people in the area who live with MND.

As part of the hospice multi-disciplinary care team she signposts services and highlights approaches that have benefited many people to live as well as they possibly can with their illness. Liz works with people living with MND and their families to understand their physical, emotional, spiritual and psychological needs and then supports them to bring in the most appropriate care professionals and, where necessary, advocate for the home adaptations which will help them to live as full and independent a life as possible. Happily married Liz is a proud mum of four who loves spending time with family and friends. To ‘relax’ she plays netball and also recently joined a local ladies touch rugby group.

For more information or to make a donation to either charity please find them at www.wirralhospice.org and www.mndassociation.org/ support-and-information/ local-support/branches/ wirral-group Outlining her role Liz said, Wirral Hospice St John’s and the Motor Neurone Disease Association are a perfect partnership. I’m able to combine my career experience in nursing and local knowledge to meet and represent all those people living with MND, alongside their families and other carers, so that we can get them all the most suitable support for their personal circumstances.

The role was created within Wirral Hospice St John’s after an anonymous benefactor left £100,000 to the local Motor Neurone Disease Association. Chris Sutcliffe, Wirral Hospice St John’s Clinical Director said, One person’s generous legacy enabled us to partner with our local MNDA group to bring in Liz to help more people living with this most complex and challenging disease. As a single local point of contact, Liz is exactly the right person to liaise with people throughout their 'MND journey', to help facilitate their decision making and care planning. We’re delighted that Wirral MNDA chose to work with us and we’ve been able to add Liz to our caring team of professionals and increase timely access to other hospice services.

Becky’s After Party

Former teacher, Rebecca ‘Becky’ Hall, was only 47 years of age when she passed away at the hospice in January.

Husband, Michael, and Mum, Pat, were with her in the final moments surrounding her with all of their love and on behalf of her three sons, Josh, Harry and Freddie, and the many family and friends who miss her immeasurably. Still grieving, but almost immediately, the family determined to raise as much money as possible in memory of Becky and to thank the hospice for the care they witnessed here on her behalf. Michael had written for her obituary, Becky had touched so many lives in her 47 years. She was adored by her friends and family and she had the ability to light up a room and spread happiness wherever she went. There are so many broken hearts. Her teaching career spanned almost 25 years at Vyner Road and Bidston Village Primary Schools. She taught with passion and a huge amount of pride. She loved her work, her colleagues and most importantly, she loved the children. Her presence will be missed by so many in the community. She had a love for life and she approached everything with an infectious smile and an air of confidence and positivity. She was simply incredible. The staff at the hospice were outstanding with Becky, they took her under their wing and gave her the most comfortable and peaceful last few weeks. They gave the family the opportunity to spend time making some final special memories with Becky and we can't thank them enough. The first thing the family resolved to do was ask for tribute donations to the hospice via the Much Loved website. Much Loved is a charity set up to allow people to set up a tribute page which also accepts donations in their loved ones memory. Because of coronavirus restrictions only 30 people were allowed at the funeral service. Mike explained, In other circumstances there would have been standing room only and many more people waiting outside the chapel to pay their respects. So I promised those who were there, and many who had lined the streets to wave farewell that when it was allowed we would have a party in Becky’s memory. It’s exactly what she would have wanted. ‘Any excuse for a party’, was her way. So in August more than 160 guests gathered at Prenton Golf Club paying a small entry fee for the hospice. Panache Catering put on a fantastic spread and Becky’s friends went into overdrive, sourcing prizes from local businesses and selling literally hundreds of raffle tickets for them. Everyone spent the evening catching up with old friends, sharing stories and having a few drinks. There was lots of laughter and a fair few tears but I’m certain that everyone went home with a smile on their faces after listening to hours of Becky’s favourite songs played out by a fabulous DJ. It really was an evening for us all to be very proud of and to have raised such a fantastic amount of money made it so worthwhile.

A combination of Becky’s Much Loved page and the ‘After Party’ has now raised well in excess of £15,000.

And, Mike concluded, Becky would have loved it. I just wish she could have been there. You, your sons and your wider family and friends really do Becky proud, Mike. Everyone at Wirral Hospice St John’s thanks you all from the bottom of our hearts.

Becky’s Much Loved charity page is https://beckyhall. muchloved.com