North Devon Hospice newsletter - Autumn/Winter 2014

news For supporters and friends of North Devon Hospice

Autumn / Winter 2014

Issue 42

Named UK Charity of the Year

The Long House Appeal

Hear from some of our volunteers

John Nettles visited the hospice.

This photo was taken just after he interviewed hospice supporter Christy. Read more about it on page 5.

being there for all the family

L-R: Dr. Murray Fletcher, Katrina, Chris, Gemma & Mezzi

In a nutshell...

The Six Steps for Six Care Homes Every year, we offer a range of training sessions specifically for local health professionals. This year we are developing our training programme by rolling out a comprehensive NHS approved training programme specifically for care homes.

The Six Steps programme supports care homes to become more confident and competent when providing end of life care for their residents; helping them to respond with sensitivity and compassion at a difficult time for residents and their families. It is a really pivotal initiative led by North Devon Hospice that contributes to providing the best possible care for people.

Care home representatives will attend a range of training sessions, workshops and local care home forum meetings. By completing the Six Steps programme, it will enable care homes to meet a range of care quality markers as set by governing bodies such as the Department of Health and the Care Quality Commission, among others.

The Six Steps programme is a way of helping care home staff provide even better end of life care. It is important that we share our expertise and experience with others so that patients receive the best possible care, wherever they are being cared for.

‘‘

Great idea to improve care and get everyone on board especially in the independent care sector.

Nursing Home Matron

’’

‘‘

We are very pleased to be taking part in the Six Steps Training Programme which is an important initiative for end of life care in North Devon. The programme will help us ensure we continue to provide the very best care for our residents at every stage of their care. Nursing Home Matron

’’

Who’s in the Six Steps Pilot?

. Eastleigh Nursing Home . Fremington Manor Nursing Home .

Nursing Home . KenwithHatchmoor . Swimbridge Castle House Nursing Home . Tyspane Nursing (Raleigh Mead) (Care

South)

(Care South)

Home (Barchester Healthcare)

With acknowledgments to Merseyside and Cheshire Cancer Network, Greater Manchester and Cheshire Cancer Network, Cumbria and Lancashire End of Life Care Network. National End of Life Intelligence network. St Luke’s Hospice, Plymouth.

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Q&A time with our Reception team, the smiling face of the hospice.

Q. Do you get involved in other aspects of hospice life? J:Yes, I do, as does my wider family. I’ve volunteered at many different events over the last 16 years. M: I’ve volunteered for many years at various events including Nightwalk, River Swim, the Sandcastle Competition, the Sheepdog Trials, among others. Every year I’m part of a team who partake in Star Trek which is always great fun.

Q. What do you do at the hospice?

Jen (on the right): We provide a warm and friendly welcome to patients and visitors as well as support our colleagues throughout the day. Moira: Jen and I welcome and try and put at ease all of our visitors and patients. We also welcome delivery drivers, gas meter readers, fundraisers, volunteers etc!

Q. What’s your most enjoyable part of the week? J: I really enjoy the days when carers’ and patients’ groups take place. It’s really great to see everyone and have a chat. It can be emotional and sometimes sad but there is also a lot of fun and laughter as well. I know that at the end of each day we have helped in some small way. M: It’s exactly the same for me too. Over time you get to know people and it’s so pleasing to see the impact the hospice has on them. Being part of helping people overcome the ‘crossing the threshold’ is very rewarding.

Q. How long have you worked at the hospice? J: I’ve worked here for over 16 years and over that time I’ve seen many changes. The biggest one being the opening of the Bedded Unit. M: For 9½ years.

‘A Warm Welcome’ w w w. n o r t h d evo n h o s p i c e . o r g . u k . b e i n g t h e re fo r a l l t h e f a m i ly 02

“North Devon

Hospice - how much do you really know?

Who do you talk to when your family is told that your whole life is going to change and a big part of your life taken away? Who looks after you when you are all so caught up in grief? Who is the person that takes control of the situation?

I was told at the age of 10 that my mum had cancer. Me, my brother, my sister, my dad and my mum were all given counselling by North Devon Hospice. They would come to my primary school and for that hour session each week, I could tell her everything that scared me; talking is a hard thing to do when you’re scared of showing emotion to the ones you Each of those nurses love. My counselling got me through each continued through of those 3 very painful primary school, days... secondary school and even college, supporting me through every step of dealing with my mum’s cancer. Every life-changing operation she had, every set of radiotherapy,

At the last stages of my mum’s journey they looked after her every single night, watching over her and talking to her. It isn’t a hospital, it doesn’t smell, it isn’t noisy, it isn’t big or scary. In fact, North Devon Hospice is the complete opposite to a hospital, it’s warm, it’s a home, it’s calm and it’s a happy place.

On my last 3 days with my mum North Devon Hospice turned their bedded unit lounge into a bedroom for me, my brother and my sister. Each morning, each lunch and every dinner they would feed us and make

“

“

they ensured I was prepared and ready to take it. North Devon Hospice goes above and beyond to ensure every single person gets the love and care they deserve.

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In support of helping to raise awareness about our proposed new outreach centre in Holsworthy, The Long House, Christy was interviewed by famous actor, John Nettles. Along with other hospice supporters and patients, Christy will feature in a short film about The Long House Appeal. us welcome. We would spend all day sitting on her bed smiling and making the last few memories, something I would never have been able to do if she was in a hospital.

Each of those nurses got me through each of those 3 very painful days, sitting and comforting me each time reality hit.

Our last evening the nurses asked me what the one thing is that I would love to eat, the nurses drove to Tesco’s and brought me tiger bread, cooked chicken and a pack of Galaxy Ripples. The night I found out my mum had died was a night that we drank tea with the nurses at 2 a.m. and spoke of happy memories. Those nurses even supported me at her funeral.

My mum died 8 years ago now, which means North Devon Hospice has given me support for 12 years. I am not writing this for your sympathy, I wrote this so you can see the support they gave one person.Thank you for taking the time to read my story!

“

Christy

Christy volunteers at the hospice as a photographer. Here are some of the beautiful pictures she has taken at hospice events over the last year.

News in Brief Stephen Roberts CEO & Dr. Murray Fletcher have visited nearly all of the 22 GP practices in North Devon to ensure we continue to work in partnership with GPs and District Nurses.

With all the summer sun, our solar panels on the Bedded Unit generated over £11,000 worth of electricity! We are over the moon...roll on more summer sun in 2015!

Local GPs have been shadowing our community nurses for the day, learning more about the care and support we provide in people’s own homes.

This insight is proving to be very popular and we have started to welcome other professionals into other aspects of our work.

We added another string to our bow.We’re now the new tennants of Sheppard’s Cafe and all profits are being donated to the hospice.

We hope Sheppard’s will help us generate a more sustainable income stream in the years to come.

Earlier this year, we launched an appeal to raise £75,000 towards a new centre in Holsworthy, ‘The Long House’ because when patients are ill, travelling for at least an hour each way to Deer Park negates a lot of the benefit that complementary therapy and the other supportive sessions might bring. For carers too, leaving someone at home for maybe three or four hours is just too long.

John Nettles backs the Appeal!

North Devon’s much loved resident, John Nettles, best known for his leading roles in Bergerac and Midsomer Murders, has pledged to support our Appeal. John spent a day at our hospice in Barnstaple, making a short film all

previous page). He then went on to Holsworthy, to meet the people who would benefit from having some of our services closer to home.

Louise, one of our Day Hospice team, said: “John Nettles created such a buzz!

He is a lovely man who was really genuine and took time to talk to everyone. He listened and understood why the hospice is important to so many people and he got to see first hand how much it means to everyone. We’re really pleased he’s supporting The Long House Appeal and is helping us to bring more care and support closer to the Holsworthy area.”

Building Progress

about The Long House and how it will make a difference. He spoke to patients visiting for Day Hospice and one of our supporters, Christy (whose story is on the

Now that we’re getting closer towards our fundraising target, the reality feels closer and closer! Catherine,The Long House’s Project Manager, said “It’s been a very busy and exciting period. We have obtained planning permission and building control approval, have finalised our building design and gone out to tender.

We will shortly be able to announce the Contractor who will be working with us to bring these plans to reality and we hope to open in late spring. 2015”

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What will be available?

- One-to-one support for patients and for their carers - Support groups for patients and their carers - Complementary therapies - Bereavement support

Fundraising Update We’re pleased to announce that we’re past the half way point and have raised a staggering £48,000 from the local community. From quiz nights to coffee mornings and from climbing mountains to running marathons, so many people have shown their support. A great example of this was in October when 500 people gathered from all across North Devon to take part in Colour Me Happy in Holsworthy’s Stanhope Park. Those

taking park in the 3km walk, run or dance (some skated!) were showered in a rainbow of coloured powder paints, creating an electric atmosphere which was enjoyed by all. If you would like to know more about supporting The Long House Appeal please call Jenny in our fundraising team on 01271 347204 or email jennyrichardson@northdevonhospice.org.uk

£75,000 COMMUNITY FUNDRAISING TARGET £48,000 REACHED SO FAR...!

If you would like to make a donation to The Long House Appeal, please visit northdevonhospice.org.uk or call 01271 347204.

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WE WON! North Devon Hospice is named UK’s Charity of the Year North Devon Hospice has gained unprecedented national recognition for the positive impact it has had on the local area, by being named UK Charity of the Year at the Charity Times Awards.

The prestigious annual awards honour the amazing work done by the UK’s 160,000 registered charities. We were recognised as a leader in the field for the outstanding care provided to local families, the support and education given to healthcare partners and the efficient way the charity is run. Stephen Roberts, Chief Executive said the award was a tribute to the staff and volunteers who give so much of themselves to the cause. “It is wonderful to be named Charity of the Year

and be recognised by our peers, but this award is not about standing on stage and collecting a trophy. This is a symbol of the tireless work that goes into the running of North Devon Hospice, and reminds everyone involved just what a special charity we have. Every volunteer, member of staff and supporter should feel proud because this award shows that their efforts really matter and do make a tangible difference to people’s lives.”

nightwalk Women’s moonlight sponsored walk

Save the date Following the success of this event, we’re pleased to announce the date of Man Trak 2015, our men only walk along the Tarka Trail.

Join us on Sunday 1st March for a walk followed by a free pint, pasty and 6 Nations Rugby!

Additional route in Bude!

The date for Nightwalk 2015 has been announced as Saturday16th May for all routes.

Our popular ladies-only night time walks will be even bigger next year, so get the date in your diary and register online.

www.nightwalk.co.uk

Visit www.mantrak.co.uk to register

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A way to remember..

Sometimes we want to find different ways of remembering someone who has died.

In the gardens of our hospice, we have recently built a special walkway where there is opportunity to have the names of those we love etched on glass and held safely within oak pillars. The pillars themselves stand at each end of the unique, solid oak structure.

As our tranquil gardens are open throughout the year, the ‘A way to remember’ walkway is available at any time to you, your family and your friends.

Already many families have taken up this opportunity to have the names of their loved ones permanently engraved in ‘A way to remember.’

If you would like to know more, please phone Ali Hunt (01271 347206)

Imagine getting to eat for free in a different local restaurant every single week. Well this dream could come true! The North Devon Eating Out Experience is a raffle with a difference. The lucky winner will get a meal for two in 60 of the area’s best eateries.You have until 30th March to get your name in the hat. To get your tickets for just £1 each, simply eat or drink in any of the participating establishments (or come to the Seafood Festival in Barnstaple Pannier Market on April 6th).Visit eatingoutexperience.co.uk for a full list of those taking part.

Meet some of our Volunteers...

“I’ve volunteered for the last year.

I get involved in so many different things, anything from proof reading this newsletter to making posters for our shops.”

Juli “I thought I could make a difference by coming to work as a volunteer and now I know I can! And that is a wonderful feeling, being a part of an amazing group of people that do their best to make life just a little better.”

Juli helps in the Communications office

Ali

Ali offers patients and carers complementary therapies

Dick

“I volunteer 3 days a fortnight.

The best part for me is doing something useful and helping others.”

Dick drives patients to and from appointments at the hospice

“I’ve volunteered at the hospice for 5 years, sorting donations that will then go out to the shops. Nothing ever goes to waste. A good friend of mine is currently being supported by the hospice and she now knows that it is not about dying, but all about living.”

Sue, helping with stock in our Charity Shops

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Sue

Christmas on the Bedded Unit We like to decorate the Bedded Unit for Christmas, making sure that just like the rest of the hospice, it has that homely Christmas feeling about it. Charlotte (centre) said “People are often quite surprised when they hear we’re open over Christmas but our care never stops and we never close our doors. We’ll be looking after families over the break.

Christmas can be a really difficult time of the year and for some people, it will be their last Christmas together. It’s important to us that the Bedded Unit is a comfortable place for people to be themselves and for families and friends to come together throughout Christmas and do the things they’d normally do, like have a nice Christmas dinner or watch a film.”

Day Hospice green fingers Patients attending Day Hospice have yielded the first produce from their very own mini-allotment here at Deer Park. Pam and Jim, pictured here, were two of many who helped plant seeds earlier in the year. One of our Day Hospice nurses, Maggie said: “We have grown a whole host of things including carrots, spring onions and lettuce. It is a great thing for us to all do together and there was a real sense of achievement when we pulled up our first crop.”

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