Eastbourne • Pevensey • Seaford • Polegate • Hailsham • Heathfield • Uckfield
Reaching Out
News from St Wilfrid’s Hospice, Eastbourne ISSUE 10 SPRING 2015
Please support
our nurses
see page 7
01323 434200
www.stwhospice.org
stwhospice
stwilfridstweet
We need your clothes!
Our shops provide essential funds to support the work we
do, but unless we get a regular supply of good quality, clean
clothes, we don’t have enough to sell. Right now we’re
desperately low on shirts and dresses.
Can you help? Why not clear the clutter from your wardrobe
and donate good quality, clean clothes to St Wilfrid’s today.
Just bring them along to St Wilfrid’s Hub, see below, where they
can be sorted and labelled before being sent out to one of our
seven shops. It’s another great way to support our nurses.
Our donations Hub is in Moy Avenue, Eastbourne – near ESK.
There’s lots of free on-site parking so do please drop by very soon!
02 I Reaching Out Spring 2015
Meet the new Chair
of the Board of Trustees
Andy Bodkin joined the board
in March last year and became
Chair in December
‘Hi! Let me start by saying what a huge
privilege it is to be the Chair of such a
great organisation!
‘I had not thought much about end of life
care until I met Chief Executive, Kara Bishop,
about 18 months ago. I was so impressed
with her passion for the hospice I knew I had
to find out more. After a couple of further
meetings Kara said the hospice was looking
for someone with strategic planning and
business skills to join the board of trustees –
I was delighted to do so.
Andy and hospice CEO, Kara Bishop,
celebrate the CQC rating
Andy Bodkin
‘Currently, I am Vice President of Operations
for an international copyright licensing
company called CCLI and I’m part of
the organisation’s Global Executive
Team. Although based in the company’s
Eastbourne office, I regularly travel overseas.
CQC inspection
‘It was wonderful, so soon after I started, that
the hospice was rated Outstanding following
its latest CQC inspection. Comments in the
report from patients and their families prove
once again what a truly exceptional place
the hospice is. Quotes included: “The hospice
has been so good – to him and to us,” “They
make me feel safe when they come and I can
contact them at any time,” “We have received
wonderful care and treatment, I did not
believe that people like that existed in the
world.” Words that are wonderful
to hear as the staff at the
hospice, and the nursing staff in
particular show such care and
compassion for the patients
and their families. It’s why I’m
really keen to get behind the
Support our Nurses in 2015
campaign, which launches in
this issue. I hope you enjoy
reading Reaching Out and
that you’re able to show your
support for our nurses, too.’
Reaching Out Spring 2015
I 03
June is Free Wills Month
St Wilfrid’s Hospice has teamed up
with local solicitors who will create
or update your will during the month
of June free of charge, in lieu of a
donation to the hospice.
In order to participate, you or your
partner need to be 55+ and to have
booked a date to see one of the
solicitors, listed below, for your first
appointment during June. Just give
them a call to book yourself in.
EastbourneBarwells
6 Hyde Gardens
01323 411505
Cornfield Law
47 Cornfield Road
01323 412512
Gaby Hardwicke
33 The Avenue
01323 435900
104 South Street
01323 727321
Hart Reade
3b Meads Street
01323 407577
39 Gildredge Road
01323 411020
Heringtons
Lawson Lewis Blaker
11 Hyde Gardens
01323 720142
McCarthy Webb
10 West Terrace
01323 400530
Mayo Wynne Baxter
20 Gildredge Road
01323 730543
Stephen Rimmer
28-30 Hyde Gardens
01323 644222
HailshamBarwells
2 Market Square
Hart ReadeOld Manor House
PolegateCornfield Law
Hart Reade
1 North Street
01323 814010
01323 841481
01323 871100
55 High Street
01323 487051
SeafordBarwells
10 Sutton Park Road
01323 899331
UckfieldDawson Hart
9 Church Street
01825 762281
If you have any queries, please contact
John Summers on 01323 434214
The nurse who started it all
A brief look at the life of Dame Cicely Saunders, the founder of the modern
hospice movement
Born in 1918, Dame Cicely
Saunders lived a long, busy
life, starting with an education
at Roedean and St Anne’s
College Oxford. She then
trained as a nurse, a medical
social worker and, finally,
as a physician at St Thomas’
Medical School in 1957, having
been advised that the only
way she would really be taken
seriously was by becoming a
doctor herself.
End of life care
“You matter
because you are
you, and you
matter to the
end of your life”
Dame Cicely Saunders
Dame Cicely recognised the inadequacy of
the care offered to the dying in hospitals.
She disagreed when patients and their
families were told there was nothing more
that could be done; in fact her thoughts were
that ‘there is so much more to be done’.
The idea of founding her own hospice came
about 20 years before it actually happened;
so it was in 1967 that Dame Cicely saw her
dream turn into reality and St Christopher’s
in Sydenham, south-east London, was opened.
It is known as the first modern hospice,
linking expert pain and symptom control,
compassionate care, teaching and clinical
research. Through Dame Cicely’s singleminded vision, and the clinical practice
and dissemination of her work through St
Christopher’s teaching and outreach, she
revolutionised the way in which society cares
for the ill, the dying and the bereaved.
Holistic support
rist
Thanks to St Ch
ce
opher’s Hospi
The ‘holistic’ support she offered recognised
the practical, emotional, social and spiritual
needs of the patient. She saw the dying
person and their family as a unit and
developed bereavement services to extend
support beyond the death of the patient.
Cicely in her nursing days
Dame Cicely died peacefully at
St Christopher’s Hospice in 2005. She set
the standard for the way society cares for
the ill, the dying and the bereaved. What she
set in motion in 1967 became the template
for hospice care around the UK, including
here at St Wilfrid’s, and we have a lot to
thank her for.
Reaching Out Spring 2015
I 05
Join our new lottery!
We recently changed the
company that runs our lottery and
there are a few big differences we
want to share with you
By joining our lottery, you will make a huge
difference to the work we do at the hospice.
We get a percentage of each £1 played and
you have the chance of winning a cash prize
every week. By changing the company that
runs it, we’re reducing our running costs, so
more of your money will be donated to the
hospice to help fund the work our nurses
do. In fact, we stand to raise £1,000,000 via
the lottery over the next five years.
A new company
Although new to us, Local Hospice Lottery
was started in 1996 and has plenty of
experience as it runs the lottery for 13
other hospices. While the prize fund is a
pool, funded by all entrants, you get to
choose which hospice you’d like to benefit
from your entry money when you sign up.
Our Specialist
Physiotherapist, Lara Cowley
and Terry Morris
A bigger prize fund
There’s a weekly prize fund of £3,000, broken down as follows:
1st prize - £1,500; 2nd prize - £400*; 3rd prize - £100; plus 100 prizes of £10
* If the 2nd prize isn’t won, it rolls over each week to a maximum
of £10,000.
Why it matters
Joy and Terry Morris appear on the marketing materials for our lottery – in leaflets and
advertisements. Terry explains: ‘Thankfully, I’m now in remission from prostate cancer, but the
help the hospice, particularly the wonderful nursing staff, gave me was incredible. Joy had a
tumour diagnosed on her right lung last year and the hospice has helped her, too. We have
learned physio exercises together, attended the Fatigue & Breathlessness Clinic and benefitted
from some amazing relaxation techniques. I support the lottery as it’s a fun, easy way of giving.’
Want to play?
The lottery costs just £1 per entry, per week. Pay by standing order, which keeps admin
costs to a minimum, and £4.34 will be taken every month for each entry. And, if you’re
stuck for a gift to give someone, why not consider the lottery? Pick up a leaflet or join
online at www.stwhospice.org.
06 I Reaching Out Spring 2015
Say hello to Hospice at Home
To mark the launch of our Support our Nurses campaign, we wanted to
introduce you to the Hospice at Home team
There are currently 16 on our
busy Hospice at Home team –
just one of the nursing teams at
the hospice. Hospice at Home is
headed up by Nurse Manager,
Eirian Levell. Though many on
the team are part-time and work
different shifts, their paths all
cross at one time or another
and there’s a lovely, friendly
atmosphere in their office – and
a busy tea run!
Eirian, who has worked at the
hospice for eight years across all
clinical areas, says: ‘The Hospice
at Home team has a fantastic
working ethos and there’s care
for one another as well as for
our patients. Caring for the dying
can be challenging and self care
is so very important, however
the satisfaction from supporting
patients with their wishes and care
at the end of life is immeasurable.’
To find out more about what
they do, we caught up with two
Hospice at Home nurses and
one of our night nurses.
†
Eirian Levell, Hospice at Home Nurse Manager
Please support our nurses
Do please consider making a donation
to the crucial work our nurses do. You
can use the letter that came with this
magazine or the donation page on the
back. Alternatively, you can donate via
our website at www.stwhospice.org.
Reaching Out Spring 2015
I 07
On shift with our nurses
To find out what exactly their work involves, we caught up with
two of the Hospice at Home team
It might be that someone needs further help
or some specialist equipment, and it gives us
time to co-ordinate that extra care.’
Visiting patients
Leanne’s first stop of the day is with Paul
Baker who lives in Langney, Eastbourne. He
has lung cancer and was given a six to 12
month prognosis in January 2014. Leanne
says: ‘It’s a case of constantly reassessing our
patients: How were they last week? How does
that compare to this week? And we’ll feed
back to other people involved in their care.
‘Each morning, we discuss patients who are
due a visit that day, what their needs are and
how things have been since we last visited,’
explains Leanne Swain, a Registered Nurse
who has worked at the hospice for 11 years.
‘It gives the nurse going out some idea of
what to expect. We also support the patients’
families and carers, so we will discuss how
they are coping too.
Inspirational nursing
‘I was a nurse at the District General Hospital
before coming here. I’d actually been
thinking about giving it up as I didn’t feel I
was doing enough. However, I helped to look
after a friend who had cancer and met some
of the wonderful St Wilfrid’s nurses. I felt
inspired and decided I wanted to work for
the hospice. I’ve never looked back.’
Claire Baker has worked here for four and a
half years. ‘It’s wonderful to be able to give
patients the care and support they need. Visits
are with another colleague or on our own,
but it’s not a lonely job, there are the lovely
patients and a supportive team comradery.’
‘We’ll return to the hospice after our visits to
update the patients’ notes on the computer.
08 I Reaching Out Spring 2015
‘Paul was first referred to the Wellbeing
Centre last year, but it’s not easy for him to
get around now so we come to him.’
Paul adds: ‘It’s good to know that the nurses
are keeping an eye on me. I live on my own
and while they help on a practical level, I
really look forward to seeing them, too.’
“It’s wonderful to be able
to give patients the care
and support they need”
Next, Leanne goes to Polegate to visit
Sally and Michael Barnett. Michael, 75,
was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease 15
years ago, and was referred to the hospice
more recently as his illness progressed. With
decreased mobility, Michael now sleeps in
what was the couple’s dining room.
Sally says: ‘The nurses helped acquire
equipment for us – the bed that Michael
uses and a hoist among other things. They
recently noticied a sore on his foot, which
I hadn’t spotted. They keep an eye on both
of us, which is such a relief. I also attend a
carers’ group at the hospice: where I can
speak to others who understand what it’s like
for me as they’re experiencing it, too.’
Getting others involved
When Claire visits the Doey household, near
to the hospice, she explains that daughter,
Irene, 42, has congenital cerebral palsy at
a level where she is unable to do anything
for herself. Her devoted parents, Diane and
Hugh, look after her in the house they share
with their other daughter and her family.
Hugh says: ‘The
nurses saved
our sanity a few
months ago! Irene
needs all sorts
of medication to
deal with sickness
and pain, but
using her usual
Sally Barnett
peg feeding tube
wasn’t working.
The nurses could see how much we were
struggling and arranged a syringe driver and
things have been so much easier in
that respect.’
Then it’s back to the office to update the
notes and chat through concerns with
colleagues. ‘It can be a strain,’ says Claire,
‘and it’s sad when anyone dies, but the
positives far outweigh the negatives.’
‘It’s an honour and a privilege to be able to
help our patients and their families,’ adds
Leanne, ‘and that makes me feel happy
and fulfilled.’
†
Nurses Leanne
and Claire
Reaching Out Spring 2015
I 09
‘I love looking after people,
it’s part of who I am’
Meet Billie-Jo Anderson, a night
nurse with the Hospice at Home
team for nearly four years
‘When I was 19, my mum died. It was such a
terrible shock. I was living at home and was a
mum myself, with a son who was nearly three,
while my baby sister was only 15 months old.
I’m one of nine and there were five under
16s living at home – so Dad and I helped
each other out. I had two more boys with my
husband and Dad was always there to lend a
hand. We lived just round the corner by then,
so Dad and I were in and out of each other’s
houses all the time.
Dad helped so much
‘Dad’s help enabled me to go out to work
and it seemed only natural that I should
follow a career in caring – it’s part of who I
am. I started part-time in a care home and
worked my way up to become the manager,
which Dad was so proud of. Then, five years
ago, he suffered a heart attack and died.
‘We were all so devastated by his death and
it made me realise how precious time is. My
baby sister was still only 12; she needed a
home and came to live with us. Work was
taking its toll and I missed the one-to-one
care. I’d met Dr Shawcross from St Wilfrid’s
Billie-Jo Anderson
through work and thought how wonderful
and compassionate she was. I then had to
pick up supplies for one of our residents
from the hospice and I was amazed – it had
such a lovely feeling, everyone was smiling
and happy – nothing like I’d imagined.
Soon afterwards, the night nurse job was
advertised. I went for it, I got it and I love it
so much!
My work at St Wilfrid’s
‘I go into patients’ homes from 10pm until
7am and sit through the night, allowing
their carer to have a night off. And I will
do anything not to disturb the carer, it’s so
important they have some time to rest… as
long as I can keep the patient comfortable
and give the carer a break, I know I’ve
done well.
‘Although I’m essentially working on my
own, I feedback to the Hospice at Home
team and have tremendous support from
my colleagues. It’s perfect, too, as I can be
around more for my own family – and my
family means the world to me.’
Some of Billie’s family, with her dad in the middle
10 I Reaching Out Spring 2015
Dear St Wilfrid’s Hospice…
‘I am Jemma Goymer and I am 12 years old, and you have
done a lot for my family. My granddad, Peter Clancey was
diagnosed with stomach cancer last year. Sadly, he passed
away in September, but you helped him so much and made
his last couple of weeks so much better. My granddad was
a funny character and always joked around with the nurses
and doctors who were so kind and caring. I can’t thank you
enough for making the last part of my granddad’s life as easy
as possible for him.’
Jemma
‘Hi, I’m Mollie Stevens and I’m 11 years old. Some of the
nurses may remember me as my dad, Shaun, was at the
hospice for many weeks before he died in 2011. I want to
thank you for making Dad’s last few weeks amazing, and I’m
so glad that he didn’t feel alone while he was ill. He had the
world’s best nurses and doctors to support him AND the rest
of the family. If my dad was here now he would definitely
want to say how much you helped him. Words can’t express
how grateful I am, so this is the least I can do.’
Mollie
We wanted to raise some money for St Wilfrid’s to thank you for the work that you do and
recently did a sponsored walk in Eastbourne from the Harbour to Holywell, and back again
– about 10 miles. Six of us did the walk all dressed in 80s wear. It was so much fun and we
raised £974.30.
With best wishes to everyone at St Wilfrid’s.
Jemma and Mollie
You are amazing!
Our fundraisers never fail to surprise and
delight us – thanks to each and every one of
you. In the photo is the Head Boy of Darwin
Community at the Eastbourne Academy
school. Their recent cheque presentation
makes a total of £6,344.41 since they started
supporting us in 2011. A big thumbs up, too,
to the Fisherman’s Club in Eastbourne, which
laid on a weekend of VE Day celebrations and
raised £3053.73. And thanks to all who took
part in our popular Firewalk, which raised a
whopping £16,000!
Reaching Out Spring 2015
I 11
We’ve got some wonderful
events coming up. We do
hope to see you soon
Dates for
your diary
Summer
2015
Various dates until 25th July
Saturday 19th September
Open Gardens
Pay a visit to
some of the
most beautiful
private
gardens in our
area. A list of
opening dates
and times can
be found
at www.stwhospice.org.
Starlight Stroll
Walk for fun or to remember someone
special at the Starlight Stroll: the
biggest event of the hospice calendar.
See opposite for details.
Sunday 2nd August
On Your Bike
Whether you’re used to a Sunday morning
pedal to the shops or are a seasoned
cyclist, there’s fun to be had on our annual
sponsored cycle.
Saturday 29th to Monday 31st August
Paris to Pier
Looking for a unique fundraising
challenge? Join our team of St Wilfrid’s
cyclists for three days of fully supported
cycling through the beautiful French
countryside.
You’ll visit
Rouen and
Paris before
taking on the
final day’s
challenge:
Paris to
Eastbourne
Pier in 24
hours.
Saturday 26th September
Trek Mount Snowdon
Conquer the
highest mountain
in Wales and
one of the
UK’s famous
three peaks on
this fabulous
walking
challenge.
2nd to 11th October
Care for a Cuppa
We’d love you to hold a tea party, coffee
morning or bake-off to help those living
with life-limiting illness. Get your friends
and colleagues together for a cuppa and
cake, and raise money for a good cause.
Saturday 24th October
Beachy Head Marathon
Become one of the many members of
#teamwilf running the Beachy Head
Marathon. You’ll receive our bespoke
running vest to wear with pride and be
supported all the way to the finish line!
For further details about any of our events,
please contact the Fundraising Team on
01323 434241, email fundraising@stwhospice.
org or visit our website: www.stwhospice.org.
Reaching Out Spring 2015
I 13
‘I can see what a difference
good nursing makes’
A volunteer with St Wilfrid’s for five
years, Anne Sullivan is a retired nurse
‘I qualified as a Registered Nurse over 50 years ago,
and for the last 13 years of my career I delivered
palliative care in the community in Greenwich,
south east London – so I feel a special affinity with
the nurses.
Volunteering at St Wilfrid’s
‘I volunteer now as a Chaplaincy Volunteer. I
visit patients to talk to them if they want, about
where they find their strength. With some it means
reconnecting with their faith and it can be incredibly
comforting for them. It’s also a support for families
and carers who can find it useful to discuss such issues.
Anne Sullivan
‘I am also a Companion Carer, where I go into patients’ own homes – it could be to give them
some company for a couple of hours or to give their main carer, usually their husband or wife,
some time for themselves.
Care and beyond
‘I cared for my own mother
who was 99 when she died, and
because of that experience
I can see how much support
carers need. I became involved
with, and became Chair of the
local carers’ support group
where I lived in Bexley. which
was really insightful.
Anne in her early
days of nursing
‘I love volunteering for
St Wilfrid’s. There’s an incredible
atmosphere about the place
and at the heart of it, always,
are the wonderful nurses.’
Want to volunteer with us?
You can support the work we do by volunteering. Whatever your skills or interests, there’s
sure to be a role for you. If you have some spare time, do please consider volunteering
with us. Just call 01323 434200 or visit www.stwhospice.org for more information.
14 I Reaching Out Spring 2015
Please support our
nurses in 2015
We urgently need your help to
support the work of our nurses.
The work they carry out, the
compassion and care they give
is second to none and without
them, the hospice simply would
not exist.
We are constantly amazed by
your continued support, so if
you are able, do please think
about supporting us again. Just
fill in the form, overleaf, to
make a donation.
Here’s how your money
will help…
£15 will sponsor one phone call to
our 24-hour, nurse-led support line
£50 will buy a nurse’s uniform
£88 will sponsor a nurse for a day
£156 will sponsor a nurse to care
for a patient through the night
at home
£529 will sponsor a nurse to care
for one patient at home in the last
few days of life
Reaching Out Spring 2015
I 15
Make a donation
Please fill in the relevant sections, in block capitals, and return to:
St Wilfrid’s Hospice, 1 Broadwater Way, Eastbourne, East Sussex BN22 9PZ
Registered charity number: 283686
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Name
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Your privacy is very important to us and we never share your information with third parties.
We’d love to keep you informed of news, events, and activities (including fundraising) at St Wilfrid’s Hospice.
I’m happy to receive such information by post
by email
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I’D LIKE TO MAKE A REGULAR DONATION
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Please pay to Barclays Bank plc, sort code: 20-27-91; account no: 90450839 for credit of
St Wilfrid’s Hospice (Eastbourne), the sum of £
(amount in figures)
(amount in words)
Start standing order on
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(date) and continue on the same date of each
subsequent month/quarter/year (please delete) until further notice (please allow one month’s leeway)
Note to Bank
Office use only – Ref No.
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Please make cheques payable to St Wilfrid’s Hospice (Eastbourne)
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PLEASE GIFT AID YOUR DONATION
Just sign the declaration and we can reclaim 25p tax for every £1 you donate at no cost to you.
I am a UK tax payer and would like St Wilfrid’s Hospice (Eastbourne) to reclaim the tax on all
qualifying donations I have made as well as any future donations until I notify you otherwise.
Signed
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I understand that I must have paid income/capital gains tax that is at least equal to the amount of tax that all the charities and Community
Amateur Sports Clubs I donate to will reclaim on my Gift Aid donations in the tax year in which they are received and that Council Tax and
VAT do not count for this purpose.
Should your circumstances change you can cancel this declaration at any time by writing to your bank and informing St Wilfrid’s Hospice.
Please notify us if you change your name or address. Please contact us if you have any queries – 01323 434200.