Category: Hospice News

Tracey Bleakley (second left) meets with the team at the ‘Hospice in the Hospital’

St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice praised by Hospice UK CEO after visit to ground-breaking ‘Hospice in the Hospital’

Tracey Bleakley, the CEO of Hospice UK today praised St Barnabas Hospice for their pioneering approach to end-of-life care and the difference it makes to patients and their families.

This morning Tracey who leads the national charity representing hospices, visited the innovative ‘hospice in the hospital’ and praised its approach to patient experience.

The purpose designed £1.2 million six-bedded community hospice opened in September 2014 as part of a joint venture between St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice, United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust, and Lincolnshire South West Clinical Commissioning Group.

Chris Wheway, Chief Executive for St Barnabas Hospice, said:

“It is a real honour to be recognised as leaders in our field by the national charity for hospice care and to work with them to share our expertise and knowledge to further support the development of palliative and end-of-life care.

“The hospice in the hospital perfectly demonstrates that when organisations work collaboratively the service a patient and their family receive is greatly enhanced. This partnership allows for us to widen local access and offer those in the community with a life-limiting illness a choice of where and how they want to die.”

The unit at Grantham and District Hospital is the first of its kind in the UK, providing care to patients under the responsibility of GPS but with access to hospital nurses, doctors and therapists.

It harnesses the very latest thinking and research, putting the project at the forefront of best practice by adopting a novel approach to design to improve end-of-life care across South West Lincolnshire.

Cathie Alcock, sister of the hospice for United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust, said:

“As the Sister of this wonderful facility it is a real honour and privilege to not only work in such beautiful surroundings, but also in being able to care for the many patients and their families and friends who have passed through our doors since we opened. The feedback that we have received from users of the unit and the local community have all been really positive and encouraging.”

Since it opened its doors in September 2014, the ‘hospice in the hospital’ has cared for more than 260 patients – saving them and their families a 60-mile round trip to what was the county’s only inpatient unit at Nettleham Road, Lincoln.

Dr David Baker, Chair of The Executive Committee, South West Lincolnshire CCG, said:

“For Tracey to visit and recognise the work that has been undertaken at this ground breaking unit has been a fantastic achievement. The close working relationship between the parties has meant that the unit has quickly been recognised as the way forward for the delivery of palliative care. The unit is already receiving very high praise from the many patients and their families who have used the facilities.”

Every seat in The Angel Coffee House was filled as 37 people from across the county gathered together for discussions on death and dying

Lincoln, 17th May 2016 – In a bid to break the taboo, St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice has held a Death Café where members of the public gathered to eat cake, drink tea and discuss death.

The Death Café was held on Sunday 15th May, from 3 – 5pm, at The Angel Coffee House on Free School Lane in Lincoln. The event aimed to stimulate conversation about death and dying.

Lisa Gibson, Community Development Manager at St Barnabas Hospice, said:

“Talking about death, dying and bereavement is a subject that many people can find challenging. In many ways, it has become a modern taboo with people desperately avoiding their own mortality.

“Therefore it was a real delight to see The Angel Coffee House full of people who had come to have open and honest conversations about all aspects of death and dying and help us to challenge this taboo.

“At Death Café 37 people gathered in small groups to have open discussions about a wide range of subjects including will writing, coping with bereavement and how to talk to family about dying.

The Death Café was a group-directed discussion with no agenda, objectives or themes and was a discussion group rather than a grief support or counselling session.

Lisa said: “Death Café had a real buzz and it was wonderful to hear the many life-affirming conversations taking place. Alongside the serious topics being discussed, there was also a lot of laughter and guests lefts the event feeling very uplifted.

“People fed back to us that they enjoyed having an environment where they were encouraged to discuss topics that they might otherwise avoid and where they were made to feel welcome.”

The Death Café movement was started by Jon Underwood in London in 2011 and since then thousands of Death Cafes have been held across Europe, North America, and Australasia.

Lisa concludes: “It is our view that having open and honest conversations will mean that we are all better equipped to support each other when death has an impact on our lives.

“Death Café is a brilliant way to address that by having gentle conversations in an informal setting. The event really helped people to focus their thoughts and feelings on important subjects that are paramount to helping people to live well and make the most of life until the very end.”

Death Café was held on the last day of Dying Matters Week, which runs from 9th – 15th May. The annual campaign urges people to talk more openly about death, dying and bereavement and make plans for the end of life.

St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice launch The Good Goodbye app to help people to live and die in the way that they choose

St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice has launched a new app The Good Goodbye to encourage conversations about dying, death and bereavement.

The app, which was produced by Liam Moat, will be available to download for free and will pose a series of questions to prompt discussions. Questions can be answered at random or within themes such as Living Life to the Full, Planning Ahead, Being Cared For, Dying Well, and After Death.

Earlier this year the Dying Matters Coalition revealed that 71% of the public agreed that if people in Britain felt more comfortable discussing dying, death and bereavement it would be easier to have their end of life wishes met.

Community Development Manager Lisa Gibson said the new app would help to change social attitudes towards these subjects and help to remove the stigma associated with talking about death.

“Talking about dying may not be easy, but it could be one of the most important conversations you will ever have. In many ways, death and dying has become a modern day taboo with people actively avoiding their own mortality.

“A fundamental change in society to accept death as a part of the life cycle will mean that when death does have an impact on our lives we will be better equipped to support each other.

“Open and honest conversations will also mean that more people are able to access the care and support they need, make the most of the time they have and have their end of life wishes met.”

The app can be used independently or as part of a group to promote wider discussion. Where a participant finds a question particularly thought provoking it can be saved to an envelope which will be forwarded to them at the end of the game. In order to play only one person needs to have downloaded the app.

Lisa said: “The Good Goodbye offers users the chance to gather their thoughts together about how they want their end of life to be. The app is about talking to your friends and loved ones and sharing your thoughts and feelings.

“Users should think about where is the best place for them to have these conversations, who would they like to be involved and when would be the best time to have these conversations.

“The important thing is that The Good Goodbye is a practical first step in starting important conversations and for putting plans in place.”

The Good Goodbye is available to download from the Apple’s App Store and Android’s Play Store.

Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/the-good-goodbye/id1109782003

Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.liammoat.thegoodgoodbye

Local residents are encouraged to share their hopes and dreams

St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice are attempting to compile Lincolnshire’s biggest ever bucket list during Dying Matters Awareness Week

St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice will be teaming up with The Waterside shopping Centre in Lincoln to raise awareness of the importance of talking about dying and putting plans in place.

From 9th – 13th May, local residents will be encouraged to add their hopes and dreams to bucket list style ‘Before I die…’ boards and decorate a cardboard coffin with poems, art, and quotes in a community coffin project.

Michelle Webb, Director of Patient Care for St Barnabas Hospice, said:

“Over half a million people die in the UK each year; yet talking about dying, death and bereavement is something that many people find challenging. Our presence within The Waterside Shopping Centre is about removing the stigma surrounding these subjects and encouraging people to have open and honest conversations.

“People may think it sounds morbid but the boards and the coffin project are as much about life as they are death. It is about encouraging people to make the most of the time they have and to put plans in place so that they can get on with living.”

The bucket list style boards and the community coffin project are part of a wider initiative to promote Dying Matters Awareness Week, which runs from 9th – 15th May. The annual campaign urges people to talk more openly and make plans for the end of life.

Michelle said: “Our hope is that the boards and coffin will help to get important conversations started about what really matters to people and tackle the reluctance to discuss dying and death.

“People can get involved right across the county as our 27 shops will also be hosting bucket list style window displays which our shoppers can add to. Our aim is to get as many people as possible involved in helping us to create Lincolnshire’s biggest ever bucket list.

“We hope that over time we can change social attitudes towards the topic of death and that by having open and honest conversations we will all be better equipped to support each other when death has an impact on our lives.”

St Barnabas Hospice seeks to break down the taboo surrounding death and help the local community plan for the end of life

St Barnabas Hospice will be supporting Dying Matters Week with a drop-in session to encourage people to have ‘The Big Conversation’ in Grantham.

The event will be held at their site on Barrowby Road on Tuesday 10th May, from 12pm – 2pm and is free and open to all.

Local residents are encouraged to come along to have open and honest conversations about dying, death and bereavement and to make their wishes known to family and friends.

Mandy Irons, General Manager South for St Barnabas Hospice, said:

“Every minute someone in the UK dies, but many of us still do not feel comfortable talking about dying. It is our aim to provide a safe haven where having these conversations are encouraged and can be explored.

“It is important to remember that you don’t have to be ill or dying to talk about dying or to put plans in place. In fact, in our experience it is better to have these conversations when you are well to avoid making them when it is too late.

“Talking more openly about dying can help you to make the most of life and to better support our loved ones when death has an impact on their lives. Talking openly makes for a healthier and happier community.”

The drop-in session will be attended by representatives from Ringrose Law, Geesons Funeral Directors and St Barnabas Hospice staff who can offer free advice on how to get your end of life plans in place.

Conversations will take place over speciality teas supplied by The Teaspoon Tea Company and freshly made cakes, all free of charge.

Mandy concludes: “Getting the conversation started can sometimes be difficult but we find that once it has started people have very strong opinions. It is important that people communicate their views to ensure their end of life wishes are met.

“We understand that talking about dying may not be easy but we hope that we can support people to have these conversations, not only during Dying Matters Week, but throughout the year.”

Emma Warner, Specialist Nurse Practitioner for St Barnabas Hospice

St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice are encouraging the Boston and Spalding community’s to talk openly about death, dying and bereavement

St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice has announced plans to host a series of activities in Boston and Spalding during Dying Matters Awareness Week.

The annual awareness week, which runs from 9 to 15 May, urges people to talk more openly about dying, death and bereavement and make plans for the end of life.

Emma Warner, a Specialist Nurse Practitioner from the local community will be facilitating a story-time with nursery children, hosting a stall in the town centre and encouraging the ‘Big conversation’ at a cheese and wine evening.

Emma said: “We have a whole host of events planned throughout the week and we are hoping that there will be something to appeal to all ages within our community. We really want to encourage everyone to start having open and honest conversations about what is important to them in life and death.

“Asa hospice it is our responsibility to help facilitate these conversations and provide an environment where it is OK to explore the many facets associated with what is often a taboo subject.

“The story time at the nursey allows for social change to be driven from a young age and helps to educate our children that death is as much about life as being born. Having honest but appropriate conversations with people of all ages is vital in helping to shape the perceptions of our future generations.”

During the week St Barnabas Hospice will be encouraging people in Boston and Spalding to join their county-wide initiative to create ‘Lincolnshire’s Big Bucket List’ and share their hopes and dreams.

Emma concludes: “We hope that the events we have planned during Dying Matters Awareness Week will help to break down the barriers which are often associated with this sensitive subject.

“We are aiming to get as many people as possible to have conversations about dying, death and bereavement and that our events will prompt them to continue these conversations when they return home.”

The timetable of events:

Monday 9th May

• 10am – 3pm Awareness stand at Asda, Lister Way, Boston PE21 8EQ

Tuesday 10th May

• 9am – 3pm Awareness stand with Butterfly Hospice Trust at Johnson Hospital, Spalding Road, Pinchbeck PE11 3DT

• Storytime at a nursery in Boston

• 6.30pm – 9pm Cheese and Wine evening, Green Lane, Boston PE21 9NB

Wednesday 11th May

• 9am – 4pm Awareness stand with Butterfly Hospice Trust at Pescod Square, Boston PE21 6QX

Thursday 12th May

• 10am – 12noon Day Therapy social group, Boston Hospice, Green Lane, Off Red Cap Lane PE21 9NB

Friday 13th May

• 10am – 4pm Awareness stand with Butterfly Hospice Trust at Pilgrim Hospital, Sibsey Road, Boston PE21 9QS

Saturday 14th May

• 8am – 4pm Market Stall at Boston Market

The Colour Dash proves its growing popularity after it sells out with less than three weeks to go

St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice has announced that they have sold all 3,500 of its places ahead of the Colour Dash on Saturday 14th May.

The Colour Dash, held at the Lincolnshire Showground, is a fun run which will see participants take on a 5k course lined with paint stations. At each kilometre runners will be splattered from head to toe in environmentally friendly powdered paint.

Becky Otter, Event Manager for St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice, said:

“Last year Lincolnshire’s first ever Colour Dash raised more than £100,000 for hospice care and was a huge hit with people of all ages. This year we opened up the event to an additional 1,000 participants and we are delighted to have sold-out!

“The event has a brilliantly upbeat atmosphere and a real sense of euphoria from all those that take part. People take part for all sorts of reasons, to remember a loved one, to have fun with their mates or to take on a personal challenge.

“People have been signing up for this event in flurries from the very beginning and we are still getting enquiries from people now. Unfortunately all the spaces are full so we are now turning people away.”

The run was organised in partnership with local events supplier, Running Imp and support has also been received from Western Power Distribution, who have been named as headline sponsors.

The Colour Dash is set to be the biggest event the charity has ever hosted with the largest turnout and largest pledged sponsorship.

Becky said: “We hate to turn people away from any event but due to health and safety we have to ensure that we do not exceed this capacity.

“With less than three weeks to go until the big day now is the time for people to push their sponsorship and online giving pages. Every penny raised from this event will help thousands of people receive the care they need, every day of the year.”

Spectators are invited to come along to the Lincolnshire Showground and cheer on the 3,500 entrants. There is ample free onsite parking.

The Angel Coffee House on Free School Lane in Lincoln. Photography courtesy of Steven Haddock.

Death and dying are very much on the menu at Lincoln’s first ever Death Café

St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice has today (Tuesday April 26) unveiled plans to host Lincoln’s first ever Death Café where members of the public can gather to eat cake, drink tea and discuss death.

The Death Café will be held on Sunday 15th May, from 3 – 5pm, at The Angel Coffee House on Free School Lane in Lincoln. The event aims to stimulate conversation about death and dying.

Michelle Webb, Director of Patient Care at St Barnabas Hospice, said:

“Talking about death, dying and bereavement is a subject that many people can find challenging. In many ways, it has become a modern taboo with people desperately avoiding their own mortality.

“What we are hoping to do is help to change social attitudes towards death and dying and provide a safe haven where talking about death is encouraged.

“It is our view that having open and honest conversations will mean that we are all better equipped to support each other when death has an impact on our lives.”

A Death Café is a group-directed discussion of death with no agenda, objectives or themes. It is a discussion group rather than a grief support or counselling session.

The Angel Coffee House will also be hosting a collection of artwork from local artists which depict the topics of death and dying. The artwork will be on display from Monday 9th May for one week.

Michelle said:

“Death Café really isn’t as morbid as it may sound and its premise is to provide an environment where the important topic of death can be broached without judgement.

“Death can bring up many questions, opinions and feelings and with this in mind our professional counsellors will be in attendance to provide additional support or help if anyone should need it.

“Death Café is a new concept for us and we are looking forward to exploring the many topics that may arise from what constitutes a “good” death, to how someone would like to be remembered to the song they’d like playing at their funeral.”

The Death Café movement was started by Jon Underwood in London in 2011 and since then thousands of Death Cafes have been held across Europe, North America, and Australasia.

Death Café is being held on the last day of Dying Matters Week, which runs from 9th – 15th May. The annual campaign urges people to talk more openly about death, dying and bereavement and make plans for the end of life.

St Barnabas Hospice will also host a second Death Café at Three Counties Deli and Coffee Shop in Long Sutton on Thursday 12th May, from 7 – 9pm.

For more information about Death Café or to reserve your seat at the table contact 01522 559 504 or email marketing@stbarnabashospice.co.uk or sign up to the event at https://www.facebook.com/events/1601114136874462/

The team at the hospice on Nettleham Road unveil the new-look branding

A new-look is unveiled for Lincolnshire’s leading palliative care provider

Local independent charity St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice has refreshed its brand as it looks to raise awareness of the range of life limiting illnesses they are able to support and boost donations.

The refresh has seen a change in the visual identity of the logo, which will act as a signpost for all the work the hospice is involved in. The new logo includes the familiar colour pallet of blue and yellow, harnessing the charity’s reputation and heritage while modernising their overall look.

The logo carries an emblem featuring a yellow heart at the centre of its design, reflecting the care the hospice provides to patients and their families and to symbolise that people are at the heart of their organisation.

The charity’s core values of hospice, care and support are now present alongside the brand logo to underpin the work of the hospice. These values were derived from extensive market research involving internal focus groups and external surveys.

Veronica Brien, Head of Fundraising and Marketing for St Barnabas, said:

“The more we talked to our existing and potential patients the more clear it became that they didn’t understand the range of services we had to offer or the range of conditions we could support.

“The refresh stemmed from the continued expansion of our hospice services which has seen the overhaul of Day Therapy, the introduction of hospice care in a patients own home and the support of patients in acute hospital beds.

“The new branding helps to better communicate our positioning as a leading palliative care provider committed to supporting and caring for our patients and their families. It will also help us to continue our awareness raising about the range of life limiting illnesses we are able to care for ranging from cancer, to lung and heart conditions, to dementia.

“To be able to grow as a charity we need to be clear about what we do, who we care for and how our supporters can get involved in delivering specialist end of life care.”

Work on the brand refresh began last year when St Barnabas Hospice overhauled their photography to focus on a using photo’s that portrayed real patients being cared for in their preferred place of care.

Veronica said: “The refresh will impact our logo, tone of voice, key messages, colour pallet and photography, all of which are vitally important in helping to better engage with our community, from medical professionals to patients and our volunteers.”

In the past two years St Barnabas Hospice has seen a significant increase in the number of people accessing their services from 5,800 at the beginning of 2014 to 9,000 by the end of last year.

With an ageing and growing population the demand for hospice services is expected to significantly grow and this has impacted the charity’s fundraising targets which now surpasses £4 million.

Veronica added: “The brand refresh will help us to better communicate with our supporters about how they can get involved, whether they act as ambassadors, raise funds or volunteer. It is important that our community understand how they can help drive forward palliative care services across the whole of Lincolnshire.”

The refresh was undertaken by Ruddocks, a local design and print company, who donated their time and expertise to refresh the brand free of charge. They will continue to work with the hospice to roll-out the new look across all hospice sites and their marketing materials.

Paul Banton, Managing Director at Ruddocks, said:

“We are delighted to have been involved in the re-branding of such a recognisable, worthwhile and vital charity. Working with the team at St Barnabas has given us a real insight into the work they do and the level of care & services they provide. It is both a pleasure and honour to have been able to help in some small way. We hope the new brand helps widen awareness for what St Barnabas do and the vital role they fulfil to Lincolnshire families.”

Professor Manami Hori from Tokai University Kanagawa, Japan

Professor Hori will tour the hospice sites in Lincoln and Grantham to research best practice in palliative and end-of-life care

Professor Manami Hori from Tokai University Kanagawa, Japan will be visiting St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice on 16th March to see first-hand quality palliative and end-of-life care in action.

Professor Hori is visiting the UK on a fact finding tour to research how care for older people is integrated, particularly between health and social care. She is developing an academic argument that quality palliative and end-of-life care is a key part for the successful development of sustainable integrated health and social care system.

Chris Wheway, Chief Executive at St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice, said:

“We are honoured to welcome Professor Hori to St Barnabas and share what we do and influence thinking around palliative and end-of-life care in an international context. This is an opportunity for us to share our core values and our vision for hospice care.

“Professor Hori will be visiting our sites in Lincoln and Grantham where she will meet with our specialist health care professionals and gain a deeper understanding of how we work as a team and as a care system.”

Professor Hori specializes in Health and Social Care Policy, Health System Management, Welfare and Public Policy in Japan. Her recent research has included;

• Comparative health and social policy for the elderly of UK and Japan (especially interested in long term care, end of care, integrate care for the elderly with dementia)

• Public and private Partnership in health and social care system. (Welfare Mix)

• Factor analysis of health expenditure and long term care expenditure

• Insurer function in public health insurance and managed competition (Internal Market)

• Sustainability of social security system under aging society

• Study on UK policies for delayed discharge and intermediate care

Professor Hori has published in excess of 100 academic papers and 5 books, her latest book ‘UK Healthcare Policy Reform and Integrated Care Systems’ is about to be published.

She is a senior advisor to the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, and sits on a number of prestigious committees including ‘Japan Vision 2035’. She is Executive Director at Tokai University.