Category: Hospice News
Hospice receives double 5* food hygiene rating
St Barnabas Hospice has been awarded two 5* food hygiene ratings at their Lincoln sites.
Kitchens at the St Barnabas Hospice Inpatient Unit and Day Therapy Centre in Lincoln have both received a 5* food hygiene rating following a recent inspection.
Staff at the Hospice are delighted to be awarded this accolade, which really showcases the excellent level of service they provide to patients, visiting families, staff and volunteers.
Sisters, Bridget and Mary Walker, work at the Inpatient Unit kitchen, cooking meals for patients in the last few days and weeks of their lives. Bridget said:
“I started working at the Hospice about ten years ago and Mary has been working here since November. It’s a great place to work – there’s lots of passion here and the people are lovely. The Hospice used to come out and give end-of-life care to our Mum whilst I was working here in the kitchens.”
Mary added:
“Being in this situation means we can really associate with other patients a lot more. We feel what other families are feeling and know just how much it means when we go above and beyond in our roles.”
Tricia Turner is a Cook who covers both the Inpatient Unit and Day Therapy Centre. She said:
“I’ve been working here for three years and love the environment. At the Inpatient Unit it’s special because often you’re cooking somebody’s final meals. The best meal I’ve cooked for a patient was monkfish and smoked kippers, which he absolutely loved. We cook a huge variety of meals and if a patient wants something we don’t have in, we go to a local supplier and make sure we have it for them the next day.”
Sharron Pearce, Cook at the Day Therapy Centre, added:
“We’re all so proud of these two 5* ratings. It showcases how well we all work together and is a marker of the amount of hard work and dedication that goes on behind the scenes. Our busiest day for patient food at the Day Therapy Centre is a Tuesday, which I like to call ‘The Tuesday Club.’ Last year, we had 24 patients in on one day for a group Christmas dinner, which was fantastic to cook.”
These two 5* food hygiene ratings follow quickly after CQC awarded the Hospice with an ‘Outstanding’ rating for the level of care they provide.
Chris Wheway, Chief Executive at St Barnabas Hospice, said:
“To receive one 5* food hygiene rating is great, but to receive two is absolutely fantastic! The hospice approach to care is a holistic approach, meaning every single one of our staff members and volunteers play their part in the care of a patient. Our kitchen teams are an incredibly important part of delivering this excellent, personalised care. They go above and beyond every single day to create meals that will satisfy our patients’ changing appetites and tastes whilst they are ill.”
St Barnabas Hospice provides free care to adults across Lincolnshire living with a life-limiting or terminal illness, as well as supporting their families and carers. Patients can be cared for at home or in a specialist Inpatient Unit (Lincoln or Grantham). The Hospice also has Day Therapy Centres across the county where patients and families can attend for physiotherapy, occupational therapy, complementary therapies, welfare advice and bereavement support. To find out more about the services the Hospice provides, visit www.stbarnabashospice.co.uk
Lincoln Wig Bank urgently needs volunteers to avoid closure
The St Barnabas Hospice Wig Bank is in danger of closing unless volunteers come forward to help run it.
St Barnabas Hospice runs a Wig Bank every Monday, helping patients experiencing hair loss as part of their diagnosis. Sadly, the current volunteers are stepping down from their roles in March and the Hospice is asking for help to keep this service running.
The Wig Bank service is provided free of charge to patients living with a life-limiting or terminal illness across Lincolnshire, and the volunteers who run it play an incredible role in supporting patients with their diagnosis. St Barnabas hopes that new volunteers will help their patients choose the perfect wig and/or headwear, provide advice about scalp and wig care and support the patient through the process of obtaining a wig.
Since the Hospice set the Wig Bank up in 2014, it has supported over 450 patients.
Jane Fulton, a member of St Barnabas staff who has personal experience of the Wig Bank, said:
“When anyone is facing challenging treatments regarding their health, they need all their energy to focus on getting through it. The last thing they need is to face the prospect of hair falling out. Your hair identifies you as a person and losing it takes part of your identity away.
“The Wig Bank service at St Barnabas provides invaluable support in choosing a wig and fitting it. They understand what it means to face hair loss, they understand the emotions people are going through and they provide the most amazing wigs that will suit individual needs. Once the right wig has been found, confidence returns. You are not identified as someone ‘ill’ and you can get on with your treatment.”
St Barnabas would be delighted to speak to people with a knowledge of hair dressing who are able to support with this role. They are flexible and would be happy to change the day of the week that the Wig Bank opens if this suits someone better. A minimum of two volunteers will be needed to keep this service open in its current format.
To view more information on the role, visit https://recruitment.stbarnabashospice.co.uk/VacancyDetails.aspx?VacancyID=1753. Alternatively, call the Volunteer Services team on 01522 518 221 or email volunteering@stbarnabashospice.co.uk to discuss it further.
Twelve ways to cope at Christmas following a bereavement
St Barnabas Hospice has put together a helpful guide for those coping with a bereavement this Christmas.
Local charity, St Barnabas Hospice, knows that Christmas can be an especially difficult time for those going through a bereavement. Whether this is your first Christmas after a bereavement, or you were bereaved some time ago, the Hospice has provided twelve helpful ways to cope this year.
Mandy Irons, Head of Wellbeing at St Barnabas Hospice, said:“We understand how painful this time of year can be and would like to share our tips for coping with bereavement at Christmas. We provide free, local support throughout the year for all adults in the community who may be struggling with a bereavement, regardless of whether they have accessed our services or not.
“Many people tell us they find some relief from attending our bereavement groups, through talking to other people who are grieving and sharing their feelings in a safe place. As well as bereavement groups, we are also able to support people through one-to-one counselling and follow-on friendship groups.”
The St Barnabas Hospice twelve tips for coping with bereavement at Christmas are:
- Give yourself permission to cry or be emotional – it’s ok to show your feelings.
- Include the person in some way – perhaps light a candle or raise a toast. Visit stbarnabashospice.co.uk/lual to dedicate a light in memory of a loved one on their Tree of Life. They will send you a handwritten, personalised card and silver star tree decoration so you can include your loved one in Christmas celebrations and memories.
- It is your choice to accept or decline invitations – if Christmas lunch with friends or family feels too much, perhaps you could go for a shorter amount of time or arrange to see them after Christmas.
- Give people permission to talk about your loved one. They may be frightened of upsetting you or saying the wrong thing, so let them know it’s ok to share memories, perhaps by starting a conversation or recalling a memory.
- If you are spending time with others, agree that you might also like some time alone. Helping other people understand your needs will ensure that they know how to help you and can respect your wishes.
- If you will be on your own at Christmas, you could find out what’s happening locally. Many community groups meet throughout the Christmas period.
- Explain that you might need to change your plans at the last minute. Grief can come in waves and having a safety net can be enough reassurance that you will be able to cope and that you won’t feel you are letting people down.
- Talk to friends and family beforehand. We all grieve in different ways and you may need to let others know about your feelings and worries. They may not know what to say.
- Keeping busy can be a helpful distraction, but being too busy can be exhausting. Pace yourself and give yourself time for other activities not associated with Christmas. Going for a walk or reading are both good ways to relax yourself.
- People can feel guilty about having fun with family and friends, especially if they are around others. Enjoying the company of other people and the spirit of the season can be very comforting. There’s no expectation for you to be sad all the time. We all grieve, remember and celebrate life in very different ways.
- Sometimes it’s easier to talk to people who aren’t family or friends, but who understand how difficult a bereavement can be. St Barnabas holds weekly bereavement groups across the county to help and support you, whatever the time of year.
- Above all, be kind to yourself. Remember, this is just another day.
The St Barnabas Hospice Wellbeing team are here to provide free support to people coping with a bereavement across Lincolnshire, regardless of whether their loved one received hospice care or not. To refer yourself to this service, call 0300 020 0694.
Hospice joins UK’s first Grief Awareness Week
St Barnabas Hospice is teaming up with charities and individuals across the UK to raise awareness of grief throughout National Grief Awareness Week.
Spearheaded by The Good Grief Trust, the UK’s first National Grief Awareness Week will run from Monday 2nd December to Sunday 8th December. The goal is to offer a toolkit of support to those coping with bereavement, as well as helping others know what to say and do to help those grieving.
The impact of grief can be devastating and can last a lifetime. To put this into perspective, the current death figures for the UK are:
- One person dies every minute.
- A parent dies every 22 minutes, leaving behind 41,000 dependent children.
- That equals 112 newly bereaved children every day.
- 1 in 29 children have lost a parent – roughly one child per classroom.
- There are 21 child deaths each day.
- 90% of young offenders have had an average of 6 bereavements by the age of 18.
St Barnabas Hospice has a bereavement service which provides free support to anyone in Lincolnshire who is bereaved. The Hospice supports all adults, regardless of whether their loved one received hospice care or not. 
Tracy Tuffs, Counselling Service Team Lead at St Barnabas Hospice, said:
“We have a team of dedicated staff and volunteers who work tirelessly to support people across Lincolnshire. In total, we have 37 trained counsellors, 18 supportive listeners and 39 volunteer group coordinators.
“Grief comes in many forms, and no two people’s grief is ever the same. There isn’t a time limit on grieving and we recognise that our support must be tailored to each individual. This is why we have options for people to attend one-to-one counselling, bereavement groups, supportive listening sessions and even follow-on friendship groups for those who have moved past the early stages of grief.”
Former Grange Hill actress, Linda Magistris, founded The Good Grief Trust in 2016 following the death of her partner. Linda said:
“Every year an average of 530,000 people die in the UK, with many more family, friends and colleagues left to grieve, often alone. We will all be affected by a bereavement sometime in our lives, yet we still find it hard to talk about our grief.”
Patrons of the week include former cricketer Phil Tufnell, former pop singer Shirlie Kemp (Holliman), actor and director Todd Carty and Sky Sports presenter Anna Woolhouse.
The St Barnabas Hospice Wellbeing team is here to provide free support to people coping with a bereavement across Lincolnshire. To refer yourself to this service, call 0300 020 0694.
If organisations would like to speak to someone from the Wellbeing team about working in partnership, contact Laura Stones on 01522 518 246 or email laura.stones@stbarnabashospice.co.uk
Torchlight Procession 2019
Here is all of the information you need to enjoy the 17th annual Torchlight Procession.
Lincoln IMP Trail organisers announce only ‘a handful of’ Sponsorship Packages remain.
Lincoln IMP Sculpture Sponsorship opportunities are being snapped up, with only a few chances remaining for businesses to support the popular initiative. The Trail is the third of its kind for Lincoln and is set to be the most popular yet. The city’s adopted mascot will be showcased from 4th July 2020 in a two month art exhibition around Lincoln city centre and the historic quarter.
Business Sponsorship will go towards the purchase of the bespoke fiberglass IMPS, the artist’s materials and in support of reputable local charity St Barnabas Hospice who offer Lincolnshire people free, compassionate end of life care when and where they require it.
Sarah Loftus, Lincoln BIG Chief Executive says;
“We have been overwhelmed with bookings to sponsor the 30 full size IMP sculptures, with only a handful still available. I would urge anyone considering sponsorship to come forward and speak to us. The benefits of sponsorship are far and wide, including national exposure, increased brand awareness, networking and great staff engagement and team building opportunities.
All our sponsors will join us throughout the process from choosing artists, supporting new fundraising and promotional activities and invitations to the launch event, IMPS reunion at the Lincoln Castle and the final auction. Packages start from £4,500 for Official Sponsor, Education Sponsor, Presenting Partner and Digital Partner.”
The Trail has been one of Lincoln BIG’s most successful initiatives with the Barons and Knights welcoming over 490,000 visitors to the city. The arts project has spring boarded 52 artists to the national stage, encouraged over 43 Lincolnshire schools to get involved and promoted 65 businesses.
Steve Gelder, MBE, Chief Executive of Gelders Group speaks highly of his previous experience as Sponsor of the Lincoln Knights Trail.
“Lincoln Knights’ Trail was a great initiative and we were fortunate to have the opportunity to be involved. From staff and customer engagement, to taking our Knight on tour to London in his own Gelders livered van, it was great fun to engage with people countrywide.”
Confirmed IMP Sponsors, St Marks Shopping Centre Manager Valerie Johnson said:
“St Marks will be sponsoring an IMP in next year’s IMP Trail. This is the third trail that we have been involved with in the city. We believe that taking part provides businesses with a fantastic opportunity to collaborate with other stakeholders across Lincoln. The trails have proved to be immensely popular with customers and visitors and have raised a fantastic amount of money for local charities.”
The new look design for the Trail and print production has been Sponsored by longstanding Lincolnshire firm, Ruddocks. Director Paul Banton is equality positive about the plans.
“We are really excited to be involved in a project which is going to bring a lot of local people and visitors to the city. This will also support a fabulous charity.”
St Barnabas Hospice Income Generation and People Director Michele Duggan says;
“Over the past three decades more than 85,000 patients and their families have received care or financial and bereavement support from St Barnabas across the county. That service is free to anyone in Lincolnshire who needs it.But that comes at a cost and all these years later it now takes nearly £12 million to run our organisation.
As you may know we currently get some funding from the NHS but it isn’t enough. The rest we raise ourselves and increasingly with an uncertain climate the pressure on us to secure these much needed funds has never been greater.
This is why the opportunity to be involved in such a fantastic, high profile and positive campaign across Lincolnshire is so important to us and it is where people like you can help.
With that in mind, we are overwhelmed to have been chosen as charity partner for the Imp Trail and very much look forward to working alongside Lincoln Big, Wild In Art and The EBP to yet again put Lincolnshire on the map.”
Sarah Loftus concludes;
“We anticipate Sponsorship packages to be confirmed by December. If you would like to speak to me about becoming a key player in making this the best, most successful and rewarding Trail yet for Lincoln then I need you to do so in the next few weeks.”
Local Hospice launches recruitment drive for Louth and Skegness area
St Barnabas Hospice is recruiting for several clinical roles based in the Louth and Skegness area.
St Barnabas Hospice has launched a recruitment drive to bring more clinical staff to the Louth and Skegness area. The Hospice is looking to hire a Clinical Service Manager and several Staff Nurses to cope with demand.
With an ageing and growing population, there are now more people than ever living in Lincolnshire with life-limiting or terminal illnesses. These people require a range of personalised services which St Barnabas can provide across the county.
The Louth Day Therapy Centre is available for patients to visit and access clinical support, relaxation sessions, exercise groups, psychological support, singing for health, welfare benefits advice and access to alternative therapies. It has treatment rooms, quiet areas, a large lounge and a clinical room for outpatient appointments. Additionally, it acts as a base for the Louth and Skegness Hospice at Home team.
The Hospice at Home team visit patients in their own homes. This is where the majority of St Barnabas care is provided, as people often prefer to die in their own homes surrounded by loved ones.
Due to local demand, St Barnabas staff in Louth and Skegness are now finding they are becoming more stretched when trying to deliver care to everyone who needs it. Therefore, the Hospice is recruiting for new staff members.
Marie Wootton, Hospice at Home Nurse in Louth, said:
“My role enables me to meet so many lovely people around the county, and I love the variety it offers. Sometimes one patient will take up my whole day if there aren’t any ‘just in case’ meds or if they need to be written up for a syringe driver. Other days, I can see three or four patients. It’s so important to manage my time wisely so that I’m always doing best by my patients.
“I wouldn’t change my team for the world. We look out for each other, we support each other, and everyone is just so lovely.
“My passion for hospice care definitely comes from Sue Carter, my first manager at St Barnabas. She has empowered me to better myself and I see her as such an inspiration. The whole ethos at St Barnabas is amazing. We have good practice, good communication, and our ability to support patients and families with life-limiting illnesses is second to none.”
The Clinical Service Manager vacancy is a full-time role with a salary of £30,006 to £35,336. The Staff Nurse vacancies are a mix of full time and part-time with a pro-rata salary of £23,144 to £29,014.
Applications for all vacancies close on Sunday 24th November. To view the roles and apply, please visit:
Clinical Service Manager – www.jobs.nhs.uk/xi/vacancy/?vac_ref=915823931
Staff Nurses – www.jobs.nhs.uk/xi/vacancy/?vac_ref=915824006
Inside St Barnabas
St Barnabas Hospice is delighted to announce their recent CQC inspection result of ‘Outstanding’
St Barnabas Hospice has been rated as ‘Outstanding’ by a recent CQC inspection of their services.
Following a recent CQC inspection at St Barnabas Hospice, it has been announced that they have received an overall rating of Outstanding.
St Barnabas Hospice supports more than 10,500 people across Lincolnshire. They deliver free, high-quality, compassionate end-of-life care and support to people living with a life-limiting or terminal illness and their family and carers.
Just a few of the outstanding services provided by the Hospice are: specialist inpatient care, care for patients in their own homes, day therapy, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, complementary therapy, welfare advice and bereavement support. All of these services are free of charge, but St Barnabas must raise over £5.5 million each year to fund this support and care.
Comments in the CQC report revealed:
“There was a very strong, patient-centred culture from all staff. Staff were motivated and inspired to offer care for patients with kindness, compassion, dignity and respect through supportive relationships with patients and their families, care givers and loved ones.”
“One of the patients told us, “the staff are all fantastic.” Another patient told us. “I simply cannot fault them” and another patient told us, “the care here is second to none.””
“Staff cared for patients with compassion, empathy and respect. Feedback from all patients confirmed that staff treated them exceptionally well and with kindness and told us that staff went over and above what was expected of them. People were truly respected and valued as individuals and empowered as partners in their care, practically and emotionally, by an exceptional and distinctive service.”
“There was an embedded and extensive team of volunteers who helped support the service. There was a separate volunteer induction and training programme. Volunteers were valued members of the service who were provided with support and who felt part of the hospice team.”
Chris Wheway, Chief Executive at St Barnabas Hospice, said:
“I cannot begin to say how proud I am of all the staff and volunteers at the Hospice for the hard work they put in day after day. This rating is confirmation of what I have believed since I started work at St Barnabas four years ago. We are an outstanding organisation – what we deliver, how we operate and how we treat each other is outstanding.
“This achievement is a wonderful confirmation that all aspects of our organisation work together to ensure that those facing the end of life in Lincolnshire receive the highest quality of care and support.
“St Barnabas is a community owned organisation which exists to provide a service back to that community. We have incredible supporters and would not be able to continue providing our support and care without them. Everyone really has played a part in this Outstanding rating.”
Michelle Webb, Director of Patient Care, added:
“As Director of Patient Care I am extremely proud of all the clinical and support staff and volunteers. Quite rightly, the CQC inspection is a rigorous process to prepare for, and to achieve Outstanding is a real testament to the care and support delivered by our highly skilled staff and volunteers.”
St Barnabas employs over 300 members of staff and almost 1,000 volunteers give their time to help support their work. This CQC rating has been extremely well received and the Hospice are looking to maintain this going forward.
If you or someone you know need to access St Barnabas services, visit www.stbarnabashospice.co.uk or call the referral line on 0300 020 0694.
Secondary Breast Cancer Group launched in Lincoln Centre
St Barnabas Hospice has launched a Secondary Breast Cancer Group, taking place at 200 Degrees in Lincoln City Centre
The group will meet on the second Thursday of each month, from 2-4pm at the 200 Degrees coffee shop in Lincoln (Sincil Street). It is open to any member of the public who has been affected by secondary breast cancer.
Secondary breast cancer happens when breast cancer spreads to other areas of the body, and can also be known as metastatic, stage four or advanced breast cancer. There are around 35,000 people in the UK currently living with it.
A diagnosis of secondary breast cancer can mean adjusting to difficult life changes which can have a big physical and emotional impact. It is hoped that this support group will go some way to easing worries and providing a friendly environment where people can share their experiences.
Christine Kirk and Sue Ford volunteer as Facilitators for the Lincoln Secondary Breast Cancer Group. Christine said:
“People can often feel alone and isolated when they get a diagnosis like secondary breast cancer. Although family and friends are always very supportive, it can be a big help to be able to discuss things with others who are going through them.
The group is open to anyone currently going through secondary breast cancer, or who is supporting a friend or relative through secondary breast cancer.”
Both Christine and Sue recently received recognition from St Barnabas Hospice for their outstanding commitment to volunteering, for supporting vulnerable patients, bringing them connection and a place to find hope, peace and unconditional care.
Laura Stones, Community Engagement Project Lead at St Barnabas Hospice, added:
“As far as we are aware, there are no other secondary breast cancer support groups in Lincolnshire, so I’m really proud of Christine and Sue for enabling St Barnabas to offer this service free of charge.
I would also like to say a big thank you to 200 Degrees for generously donating a meeting space for this group. We are delighted to work in partnership with this local coffee shop, and we are grateful for their continued support of the Hospice.”
People can attend the groups on an ad hoc basis, whenever they feel the need to go. For further information on the group or any of our services, please call our Wellbeing team on 01522 518 246 or email wellbeing@stbarnabashospice.co.uk