ebay shop
Newsletter - 2009
Official Opening of Outpatient Services
Another key chapter in an astonishing success story has been heralded at St John's Hospice in Wirral with the official opening of the new Outpatient Services.
The purpose-built facility in the grounds of the hospice, which occupies a corner next to Clatterbridge Hospital, Bebington, was formally opened by the Lord Lieutenant of Merseyside, Dame Lorna Muirhead DBE.
Outpatient Services was formally opened by the Lord Lieutenant of Merseyside, Dame Lorna Muirhead DBE accompanied by our Chairman, Dr. Paul Cuthbertson and Chief Executive Julie Gorry.
Welcoming guests - and introducing Dame Lorna, Dr Paul Cuthbertson, Chairman of St John's Hospice announced that Lady Jean Stoddart, President of St John's, who was to have accompanied the Lord Lieutenant, was sadly, unable to attend. Lady Stoddart succeeded her husband, the late Sir Kenneth Stoddart, as President four years ago. Sir Kenneth, himself a former Lord Lieutenant of Merseyside, performed the official opening of St John's Hospice in 1983.
The two-storey Outpatient Services facility - it will provide a range of therapies to enhance service provision that the hospice can offer to patients and carers - was partly funded by a £358,420 grant awarded by the Department of Health and a hugely successful £500,000 appeal, launched to celebrate St John's 25th Anniversary in 2008. This included a massive donation of £100,000 from Wirral Primary Care Trust.
Invited guests - they included supporters, fundraisers, the project team and staff - heard Dame Lorna make particular reference to the strong bond that exists between the Wirral community and St John's Hospice. “It's absolutely marvellous and terrific” she said. “The people of Wirral believe the hospice belongs to them.” She added that there had been many milestones at St John's since it began life in the old Wendy and Peter Pan wards on the present site at Clatterbridge Hospital in 1983.
Since then, a brand new 16-bed hospice has been built on the site to care for the people of Wirral. Now a state-of-the-art Outpatient facility would help to enhance the services available to patients and carers. After the opening ceremony, guests were split into small groups to tour the centre for themselves. Staff were on hand to explain how the various services would operate and to answer questions.
The aim of the new therapy unit is to help patients to retain their privacy and dignity, maintain confidence and enhance self-esteem, so that they can continue to live at home with the necessary care and support. Pride of place goes to the therapy suite, which incorporates a purpose-built kitchen and bathroom where patients can learn how to use equipment they will go home to and where patients and carers can work in groups to develop independence.
There are also “quiet” rooms for patients and carers who need to be alone; a day lounge with a conservatory; and enhanced creative therapy and aromatherapy areas.
An automatic front entrance door takes visitors to a large reception area and outside there are parking facilities so patients can leave their vehicles close by. Julie Gorry, Chief Executive of St John's Hospice, pointed out that the new Outpatient area actually opened to patients last November.
It is comforting to know that patients are already benefitting from these great facilities - it goes without saying that we are extremely proud of our new facilities and of the enhanced service provision that we can offer to our patients and their carers
It costs £59,000+ per week to keep St John's Hospice open - that is more than £3 million a year.
New look for Patients in New Outpatient Services
On March 4th the sound of hairdryers and the smell of nail varnish and hair spray took over in our new Out Patient Services Facility.
Andrew and Liz Collinge with Pat Nickson (centre)
Day Care and In Patients joined in with a special pampering day with a buffet lunch and super cakes provided by Zugers.
Andrew and Liz Collinge brought a team of top stylists in to the Hospice for a day of pampering and there was a real buzz across the Hospice to go along with all the usual salon chatter.
The day is best summed up by Pat Nickson who attended Day Care at St John's Hospice:
Yesterday was such a special day for those of us who were privileged to be 'pampered'. For most of us, being able to have a new hair style, to be made up and to have a manicure was a special treat. We have become accustomed to the special kindness and understanding of the staff and volunteers of St John's Hospice, and the way they have mastered the relief of discomfort that serious illness brings, but your gift of 'pampering' us was the cream on an already special cake.
We had fun as we admired one-another's new looks and devised ways of making them last as long as possible, and then tried to duck the friendly banter of family and friends. But deep down we were moved that you and your team cared enough to do something special for us. We appreciated the way you all became part of the family for the day, sharing our experiences - good and challenging.
As if all that was not enough, you shared a lovely meal with us and then sent us home with bags full of more 'goodies' - your own hair care products.
It was a day that will not easily be forgotten, and we are most grateful to you for making it so special. Thank you for your generosity, and thanks to the whole team for their participation in a special day of being pampered
Pat Nickson 1944-2009
Pat is very missed by her congregation at St Mary's, Upton and her many friends
Volunteering with St John's Hospice
Volunteers play an integral role in the care given by St John's Hospice to our patients, their families and loved ones. We currently have 402 active volunteers of varying ages, four are over 85 and at the other end of the scale our youngest volunteer started just a few days after his 16th birthday!
This year the Hospice has further encouraged students by engaging with the national youth volunteering programme, 'V' programme, pictured below is one of our students, Mahin receiving her 50 hour certificate in April 2009. The Hospice also supports the Wirral Volunteer of The Year Award, with 12 nominations forwarded this year to Volunteering Wirral. These awards, together with our own annual celebration evening are an opportunity to formally recognise the work undertaken by volunteers, to raise the profile of volunteering and of course to thank our volunteers for all they do.
We welcome applications to join our volunteering team throughout the year. People volunteer for many different reasons, from 'wanting to give something back', to 'learning new skills', 'making new friends' and 'wanting to support the local community'. Many also gain valuable work experience and confidence during their volunteering time with us. Volunteering can be a lot of fun and is always rewarding. It can also be hard work and demanding, there are also quiet times with a need for understanding and patience.
If you want to find out more, please ring or email today on 0151 482 8986 or caroles@stjohnshospice.org
St John's Hospice values all volunteers, their work and commitment and also values the relationship that can develop along the way, here's just one example...
Rachel's Story
Rachel joined the hospice as a volunteer in June 2007, making drinks for patients and relatives and helping serve meals. After gaining experience she began duties in Day Care which involves more interaction with patients. Rachel does not have a regular slot, she is now a 4th year medical student at Leeds University but before every Christmas, Easter and summer holidays, she e-mails us to arrange shifts and volunteers wherever and whenever she is most needed "hopefully see you all next week, I don't half miss it (St John's Hospice) when I'm here in Leeds."
We are delighted that in September 2009 Rachel will start a 4 week elective in palliative care at the Hospice with consultant Dr Emms as part of her medical training but she won't be forgetting her volunteering duties "so although I will be busy on placements during the day, you can still use me over the weekends and evening shifts".
A tribute to Sir Kenneth Stoddart (1914-2008)
We are sad to report the death of our former President, Sir Kenneth Stoddart, who died on Boxing Day 2008. Sir Kenneth and Lady Stoddart have been supporters of St John's Hospice since its inception and Lady Stoddart took over the role of President on Sir Kenneth's retirement in 2004.
A Service of Thanksgiving for Sir Kenneth was held in Liverpool Cathedral and was attended by representatives of the Lieutenancy and Shrievalty, the Magistracy, Police and Fire and Rescue Service; the Royal Air Force and Air Training Corps, the Territorial Army and Auxiliary Forces Association; the Masonic fraternity, two Universities, the business community, St John's Hospice, and numerous other charities and causes with which he and Lady Stoddart have been associated.
Kenneth Stoddart was born in May 1914 in Grassendale Park, Liverpool. From Sedberg School he entered Clare College Cambridge, before joining the family businesses, Caerns and Brown Ltd and the United Mersey Supply Company. He flew spitfires in the Battle of Britain, becoming a wing commander, and also took part in the Dunkirk Campaign.
In 1940 he married Jean Young and they had two daughters, Jennifer and Charlotte, three grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
As well as a proud family man he was also a dedicated public servant. In 1958 he became a Deputy Lieutenant of Lancashire, and in 1974 he was appointed High Sheriff of Merseyside.
It was in his capacity of Lord Lieutenant of Merseyside that Sir Kenneth formally opened the Hospice on 24th June 1983. He served as Lord Lieutenant of the County of Merseyside for 10 years until 1989, during which period he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Liverpool University and a Fellowship of Liverpool John Moores University. His service as Lord Lieutenant was personally recognised by Her Majesty The Queen with his appointment as a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order on his retirement.
As quoted at his Memorial Service, the following words by an American writer, Bessy Stanley, might have been written for Sir Kenneth Stoddart.
He has achieved success who has lived well, laughed often and loved much; who has gained the respect of intelligent men and the love of little children; who has filled his niche and accomplished his task; who has left the world better than he found it...who has never lacked appreciation of earth's beauty or failed to express it; who has always looked for the best in others and given them the best he had; whose life was an inspiration; whose memory a benediction.
To all our supporters - thank you
Thank you for raising £16,500 from The Mayors Charity
John & Barbara Potter and their family and friends raised almost £20,000 for the Hospice in a short space of time by organizing a family fundraising walk and a spinathon at the Village Hotel, Bromborough.
The 2008 Coastal Walk raised a massive £18,000
Thank you for buying a Star Pin and supporting our Mini Bus Appeal
The 7th Prenton Brownies raised £200 for the Hospice
Thank you to all those who left us a gift in their Will.
For more information please contact the Fundraising Office on 0151 343 0778
A Letter of thanks from Angie's husband
My wife Angie died 'at home' in St John's Hospice in September last year.
Angie was in the Hospice for two weeks. She made some improvement over the first week and the staff were working with me to Angie coming home. While everything was put in place for her to come home, she was never quite strong enough. The window of opportunity never quite materialised and Angie then weakened. The joy is that she died still 'at home', because bricks and mortar, an address, is not home. Home is where you feel safe and secure and surrounded by those you love and who love you.
The Hospice functioned so that her room became 'home'. Angie was secure and safe with no anxieties around medication or making meals or shopping. All those daily chores which had she come home would have been a pressure for her and the family. So safe and secure, I lived with her for a week at the Hospice and our children, her mum and sisters visited freely. We talked, drank tea, played music - and felt in the last 36 hours totally 'at home' and free to do what was most important; cry, laugh, pray, play music, sleep, eat. But importantly - to do all of this together as a family with Angie fully part of it.
I am wanting to put into words the experience we had as to the very special and unique gift the Hospice gave us. For this I thank you.
During a family holiday in the Loire Valley, having bought a second-hand bike two days before we left for France, Angie rode a bike for the first time in her life. We returned home with the family bikes, but Angie was never confident on Wirral roads, only occasionally riding again on the Wirral Way or New Brighton promenade. Her bike now lies in our hallway under the stairs next to mine.
Angie's husband, Allan Goode, will be undertaking a 1200 km bike ride from Birkenhead to Bergerac, France in aid of the Hospice. This ride will take place during the first two weeks of September and will be on Angie's bike.
If you would like to sponsor Allan's bike ride and raise funds for St John's Hospice, please log on to http://www.justgiving.com/destinationbergerac or contact the Fundraising Office on 0151 343 0778.
Our Nurses
The history of the Hospice spans now into its 26th year. We have nurses within our team who have been here from the start, bringing with them experience and expertise that has been passed down to others over the years.
We also have new staff who have brought with them up-to-date practices and standards which they willingly bring to the team. The nature of our work has evolved over the years and we are now a Specialist Palliative Care Unit caring for the people of Wirral. However, our aim remains the same, to Comfort Always, enabling us to improve the quality of life of patients through improved symptom management.
Each member of our nursing staff has special qualities that the multidisciplinary team, to provide our patients and loved ones with high quality holistic care.
Working within all areas of the Hospice, the In-Patient Unit, Day Care and the new Outpatient Services, we feel we are in an extremely privileged position, providing care for patients and families at a vulnerable time of their lives. The Hospice provides a positive, pleasant working environment where we all recognize the importance of maintaining a homely welcoming atmosphere in which patients and loved ones can enjoy quality of life.
Two of our Nurses, Sandy and Ryan, were engaged on Christmas Day in the Hospice, with patients and colleagues joining in the excitement. Below is a photograph of their wedding in June.
Light up a Life 2008
'Light up a Life' 2008 was a huge success raising over £100,000 for the Hospice.
Thank you to everyone who supported this wonderful annual event. We were most fortunate to have good weather and our supporters were able to see the new Outpatient Services Unit decorated with lights.
This was the 13th year of Light up a Life and each year this event grows and means so much to so many people. The lights were switched on by Ruby and Morgan Evans pictured, left.
The lights on the Hospice trees are lit in memory of loved ones and the names are held in Books of Honour which are on display in our Chapel all year round. The service commences at 5.30 pm and is held in the Hospice grounds. For more information please contact the Fundraising Office.
