Winter 2011 - Wigan & Leigh Hospice

HOSPICE GOLD
YOU CAN HELP
WHAT IS HOSPICECARE?
A NURSE EYE VIEW
HOSPICE DOCTORS
On August 16, 1896, George Carmack dreamt
about gold. He dreamt of nugget eyes that
gleamed from salmon in the Klondike River
20 steps from his feet. The next morning the
old prospector pulled the first gold nuggets
out of Rabbit Creek, in the Klondike Valley
of the Yukon Territories. The Klondike Gold
Rush drew 100,000 pilgrims to the gold fields
of Canada. Their finds helped them through
very difficult times and improved their lives.
Each speck of gold on it’s own was worth
very little, but lots of them together made
thousands of people rich.
Wigan & Leigh Hospice has its own goldmine -
the kind and generous people of our Borough.
One way this is exemplified, is below:-
In 2011 a penny does not go very far, but
a millionaire’s wealth is made up of lots of
pennies. Simply put a little of your loose
change into a Hospice ‘Loose Change Box’ on
your fireplace, coffee table, kitchen worktop
or office desk; your little bit of gold dust will
help to ensure that Hospice patients can be
supported through their difficult times.
You may be surprised to learn that the
Hospice loose change boxes and collecting
tins last year raised a terrific £24,000, from
little pieces of gold dust.
A lot of that success is due to the untiring
work of a small band of volunteers who
come to the Hospice every week to deal with
the donations received. They also ensure
replacement boxes and tins are supplied.
Sylvia Wilkinson, Sandra Brogan, Eric Howe
and Alf Short have been stalwart volunteers
for a number of years. New ‘boy’ David Page
has recently joined ‘the team’.
They each have their own reasons for
supporting the Hospice and like the Gold
Miners of old, appreciate that every penny
counts.
Every home, shop or workplace has bits of
loose change around, so why not save it for
the benefit of local Hospice patients? When
you have a spare coin, simply drop it into your
Hospice box, knowing how that simple act will
multiply into big things.
Why not have a Hospice collecting tin
on display in your place of business or
Community Centre etc. They are the ideal
way to collect loose change and donations
from customers, visitors, staff or members.
If you would like t o
enrich the lives of Hospice patients by
giving a little bit of gold dust, simply
ring the Hospice on 01942 525566, email
fundraising@wlh.org.uk or obtain your
collecting box from any of the 12 Hospice
shops around the Borough.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
ABOUT WAYS YOU CAN
SUPPORT THE HOSPICE IN
HELPING TO RAISE OVER
£1.5 MILLION THIS YEAR...
www.wlh.org.uk/fundraising
Readers of the last edition of ‘In Touch’ may
recollect the article on the RAF Flight Operations
Assistant Natasha Brikett who was volunteering
at the Hospice, prior to an overseas posting.
She was featured in the ‘Royal Airforce News’
and acclaimed a “runway success” after
scooping a top military award for co-ordinating
all aircraft and vehicle movements. She was
presented her award by the Wing commander
who said ”The fact that this Unit is so tight knit
is partly down to Senior Arcraftswoman Birkett.
Tash’s cheerful and smiling disposition will be
sorely missed. by all of us here”.
make sure your local
hospice care is not
a lottery
weekly
first prize
£1000
Lottery
total weekly
prize fund
£1800
www.wlh.org.uk/lottery
01942 515566
HOSPICE SHOPS
Hospice shops co-ordinator Janet
Fletcher says “We have over 400
volunteers who give their time to work
in our twelve shops to raise over halfa-million
pounds profit every year!
This is a brilliant achievement and we want
to thank them from the bottom of our heart.
It is also thanks to the increasing number
of customers who are discovering the
incredible quality and value of our stock.
However without your ongoing donations of
good quality items, we would have nothing
to sell. So please continue supporting us
with your donations and why not pop-in
to your local Hospice shop – you will be
surprised.
If you want to become a
volunteer simply contact us
on 01942 525566.
www.wlh.org.uk/shops
What is it really like inside
the Hospice?
Patient’s live in the
Hospice don’t they?
Are there long wards of
beds?
DID YOU KNOW ?
The majority of Hospice
patients, never come
to the Hospice, but are
cared for at home.
To discover if the common
perceptions are correct: we
asked In-patient Unit Manager
Clare Waller, Sister Yvonne
Tague and Senior Staff Nurse
Kay Smallman what it is really
like inside a Hospice for those
attending the In-Patient Unit...
Clare Waller
Clare begins by telling us –
“A patient is first referred to the Hospice
by their GP, Consultant or Community or
Hospital professional.
The first surprise for many people is the
realisation that the majority of patients
NEVER come to the Hospice! They
are cared for by the ‘Hospice Team’ at
home and are usually visited in the first
instance by a Hospice Palliative Care
Nurse Specialist, who can arrange and
co-ordinate a host of services as and
when needed.
Every patient is an individual, with their
own changing needs. Everything we do,
whether at home, or here at the Hospice,
revolves around this.”
Is it a drab, miserable,
frightening place?
be suprised...
These are important
questions that often
concern people when they,
or their loved ones, are
referred to the Hospice.
Some people even refuse
to come to the Hospice
because of their fears!
For patients who
are admitted as inpatients,
common
misconceptions can
create unwarranted fears
and concerns.
Patient David Brown talking with Yvonne
Yvonne adds -
“Of those who come as an in-patient,
many come for symptom control.
This may involve a few days stay to
balance their medication, before
going back home. Every patient has
a personal care plan which reflects
this. Ongoing assessments enable
us to make sure that the correct
treatment, medication and care is
provided.
When a patient first arrives, they
are met at Reception by a nurse,
who shows them to their modern,
light and airy room. We start by
listening to concerns, fears and
expectations, after which they are
seen by a Hospice Doctor. If and
when family arrive, we inform them of
the services we can provide. These
include psychological support for
family members also.”
Patients and loved ones are concerned
because of the pre-conceptions they
have about Hospices and the ‘inpatient’
unit.
On arrival, they are usually surprised
to find a bright, airy and modern
environment. Looking out of their
patio doors onto the extensive
Hospice gardens, a pleasure in itself.
We ask people how they like to be
addressed and the majority prefer
first names.
Senior Staff Nurse Kay Smallman
has been working at the Hospice
for 16 years, originally when it was
located in Poolstock.
Kay says: “It is hard to describe
what it’s like working at the Hospice,
except that it is the most rewarding
job I have ever had. It is a privilege
to be able to form a bond with our
patients and their families, and to try
and help them at a difficult time in
their lives.
When patients come to stay with us, we
do our best to make them feel at ease.
A tray of tea and biscuits is often the
first thing on the agenda, to help them
to settle.
Many patients are frightened about
coming to the Hospice for the first
time and are surprised that there is
sometimes humour between patients
and staff; which is a great way to put
people at ease. Everyone is treated as
an individual.
I have lost count of the times I have seen
a change in the faces and demeanour of
patients and their loved ones in the first
few minutes, when they realise what a
modern, caring organisation this is and
how we genuinely have their interests at
heart.
It’s a privilege and very humbling that
people let us into their lives when they
are at their most vulnerable.
After sixteen years, I still love working
here and little things mean so much.”
part of the
Hospice
Reception area
Here at the Hospice,
the doctors work closely
alongside other members
of staff to provide the
highest quality of patient
care. The clinical
team includes doctors,
nurses, physiotherapists,
o c c u p a t i o n a l
therapists, counsellors,
complementary therapists,
social workers, speech
and language therapists
and dieticians. Jointly, we
are known as ‘The Multi-
Disciplinary Team’ and the
care we provide is known
as ‘Specialist Palliative
Care’.
Doctor Joanne says,
“The team approach is important, as
it enables us to apply our knowledge,
experience and skills in meeting the
varying needs of patients and their
families. There are several grades of
doctor working at the Hospice including
Consultants, a Senior Hospice Physician,
Hospice Physicians, and sometimes a
Registrar and GP trainee.
In addition to the 12 bedded In-patient
unit, Day Hospice and the consultantlead
Out-patient Clinic; we also work
closely with the Palliative Care Nurse
Specialists. These nurses provide care
and support for patients at home and in
the community.
Dr Jen adds
“A further aspect of a Hospice doctor’s
role is providing specialist palliative care
advice to health care professionals in the
community and hospitals.”
A rota system ensures that whilst a
number of doctors are available in
the Hospice during the week, there is
always one doctor on-call in the evening,
overnight and at weekends to address
any urgent issues that may arise during
this time.”
Dr Joanne
Bullen
Dr Cathy Higgins
Dr Jen
Waddell
Dr Cathy explains what happens when a patient
first arrives at the In-patient Unit of the Hospice...
“On arrival and after an initial greeting by one of the
nurses; a doctor, often with a nurse, will undertake
an assessment of the patient’s symptoms, finding
out about any issues they may be experiencing.
This allows a plan of care to be developed, tailored
to their personal needs.
We are very conscious of the concerns of families
and loved ones and are happy to discuss and
support their needs where possible.
The medical team then work closely with all the
other health care professionals to maintain an
ongoing review of a patient’s needs; making
adjustments to their medications and providing
symptom management as required.
As doctors working in Wigan and Leigh Hospice we
are privileged to work as part of a supportive team,
caring for patients and their families during what is
often a difficult and challenging time for them.”