Latest news with #endOfLifeCare
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'Wish Ambulance' makes its 100th journey
An initiative run by the Welsh Ambulance Service which helps patients at the end of their life has made its 100th journey. The "Wish Ambulance" enables terminally ill patients across Wales to have a memory-making last journey to their favourite destination. More than 500 off-duty ambulance workers give up their time to transport patients using non-emergency vehicles not in service that day. Last week, volunteers transported Annette 'Nettie' Burtenshaw to City Hospice's Forever Flowers Celebration of Life event at Cardiff Castle, where the 64-year-old gave a rousing performance with her beloved Rock Choir. Since its creation in 2019, it has transported patients and their loved ones to concerts, sporting events, birthday parties, cafés, museums and even to the beach. One terminally ill man accompanied his daughter down the aisle just six days before he died, while one woman watched her teenage son play football for the final time. Nettie, from Penarth, was diagnosed with uterine cancer in 2021, and later bone cancer. She said it was "amazeballs" to be the 100th Wish patient. "I can't put into words how much it meant to perform again with the choir, and the look on their faces when I turned up and surprised them in my uniform, and with my flag," she said. Ed O'Brian, Clinical Lead for Palliative and End of Life Care at the Welsh Ambulance Service, said reaching the 100th Wish Ambulance journey was a "special moment" for the team. "It's a powerful reminder of what kindness, teamwork and compassion can achieve," he added. Man fulfils dying wish accompanying daughter down aisle Wrexham's Ryan Reynolds fulfils fan's dying wish 'We cherish moment our mum's dying wish came true'
BBC News
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Wales ambulance makes 100th journey for end of life patients
An initiative run by the Welsh Ambulance Service which helps patients at the end of their life has made its 100th journey. The "Wish Ambulance" enables terminally ill patients across Wales to have a memory-making last journey to their favourite than 500 off-duty ambulance workers give up their time to transport patients using non-emergency vehicles not in service that week, volunteers transported Annette 'Nettie' Burtenshaw to City Hospice's Forever Flowers Celebration of Life event at Cardiff Castle, where the 64-year-old gave a rousing performance with her beloved Rock Choir. Since its creation in 2019, it has transported patients and their loved ones to concerts, sporting events, birthday parties, cafés, museums and even to the terminally ill man accompanied his daughter down the aisle just six days before he died, while one woman watched her teenage son play football for the final from Penarth, was diagnosed with uterine cancer in 2021, and later bone cancer. She said it was "amazeballs" to be the 100th Wish patient."I can't put into words how much it meant to perform again with the choir, and the look on their faces when I turned up and surprised them in my uniform, and with my flag," she said. Ed O'Brian, Clinical Lead for Palliative and End of Life Care at the Welsh Ambulance Service, said reaching the 100th Wish Ambulance journey was a "special moment" for the team."It's a powerful reminder of what kindness, teamwork and compassion can achieve," he added.
BBC News
25-07-2025
- Health
- BBC News
North-west of England's hospices to receive £9.2m government fund
About 30 hospices in the north-west of England will collectively receive £9.2m from the government's recently announced £75m fund for end-of-life Ann's Hospice in Greater Manchester and Trinity Hospice and Palliative Care Services in Blackpool have each been allocated more than £600, House Children's Hospice in Merseyside will receive more than £513,000, while the Hospice of the Good Shepherd in Chester has been awarded £243, Minister Stephen Kinnock said: "At this most difficult time, people deserve to receive the best care in the best possible environment with dignity." Hospices in the north-west of England provide services for about 23,000 people, with demand and costs continuing to rise. Unlike the NHS, hospices are not fully funded by the state and rely on charity contributions for about two-thirds of their sector reported an estimated shortfall of £60m during the last financial year. 'Important support' Speaking earlier this week at Wigan & Leigh Hospice, which received £500,000, Kinnock said financially struggling hospices needed a long-term funding also said the Department for Health and Social Care "need to step up and do our bit".Paul Waugh, Labour MP for Rochdale, said it was "great news" that the town's Springhill Hospice, where one of his relatives was cared for, had been awarded £335, Phil Brickell, Labour MP for Bolton, said a £321,556 grant for Bolton Hospice "will make a real difference".Brickell, who climbed Africa's highest mountain Kilimanjaro to raise funds in 2023, said: "While hospices operate outside of the NHS, it's important that we support them wherever we can."The funds are expected to be used for an array of improvements, including separate family rooms and specially adapted beds. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
BBC News
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Warwickshire LGBTQIA+ people asked to share end of life stories
A new film project will share the stories of people in the LGBTQIA+ community who are facing the end of their lives, with the aim of improving the support available to project, funded by the University of Warwick, is looking for participants to share their project lead, Prof Michele Aaron, said LGBTQIA+ people were often reluctant to access end-of-life care and bereavement services because they feared discrimination."This project is all about harnessing the power of film to bring these really important stories into the world," she said. Prof Aaron, who previously worked on another series of films about people affected by terminal illness, said there was a lack of films depicting the reality of death - even more so for LGBTQIA+ people."Hollywood tells us it's painless; it's white; it's heroic; it's straight."And we don't have truthful, honest depictions of everyday LGBT experience in the world. We have sensationalist or exceptional stories."But what we're looking at is real-life stories." The project is a collaboration between the university, queer film-maker El Jones, and the charity Compassionate Communities for those taking part will be provided by Helen Juffs, an end-of-life doula who offers spiritual and emotional guidance to those dealing with a terminal diagnosis, who herself identifies as said people from the LGBTQIA+ community were often reluctant to go into institutions such as hospices because of the need to come out to fellow patients or medical described a gay woman in her 90s who was afraid well-meaning staff might pressure her to conform to feminine standards by offering to paint her nails or style her hair. "Your identity doesn't change just because you're dying," she said. "You're still from that community and you still need to be respected and treated accordingly." 'Incredibly powerful' Ms Juffs said LGBTQIA+ people also risked being subject to so-called microaggressions."It might only be a tiny thing in somebody else's mind, like assuming that you've got a husband if you're a woman, assuming that the person who visits you all the time is your brother or sister because they're the same sex as you," she explained."It's the raft of microaggressions that really make life uncomfortable in institutions."One of the participants is Trevor Yellon, a GP who struggled to find suitable bereavement support after losing his husband, Drew, to cancer in 2023."I needed someone who could understand why, as a gay man, some elements of my loss felt different and difficult - and I wasn't able to do that," said Dr Yellon."This project... will not only create awareness of the needs of LGBTQIA+ communities at end-of-life and during bereavement, but also give insight into our real lives, our monogamous, committed long-term relationships, and our care, love and grief.""It's incredibly powerful to share your story and have your voice heard," added Prof Aaron."But here specifically, the voice can then be heard by people who really need to hear it." Follow BBC Coventry & Warwickshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
10-06-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Hospice plans could see 16 bed unit on Norfolk and Suffolk coast
A hospice charity has submitted plans to develop an end-of-life care facility in a coastal town 18 years after fundraising Hospice Care launched in 2007, changing its name to East Coast Hospice two years later. In 2023 the charity merged with St Elizabeth Hospice, based in charity says it wants to build a community hospice with 16 beds on its site at Sidegate Lane in Gorleston near Great Newman, chief executive of St Elizabeth Hospice, said: "We are delighted to submit this planning application and share our full plans with the wider community." Plans to build a hospice between Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth have stalled for almost two decades as rival charities competed over plans, sites and community was split over supporting the James Paget University Hospital wanting to build a hospice at the Louise Hamilton Cancer Centre, within its site or the independent East Coast Hospice, which had land and won planning consent for a 10-bed the NHS withdrew its plans, East Coast Hospice merged with St Elizabeth which immediately conducted a feasibility study which found a hospice was needed to help patients in Great Yarmouth and said the previous plans were not suitable to the needs identified in its report, and it appointed Norwich-based LSI proposed unit would feature 16 inpatient beds, an outpatient and community hub for day care and therapies as well as a community café. Roberta Lovick, ambassador for the Louise Hamilton Trust, said: "The strength of our partnership will help us achieve our vision of bringing greater parity to end-of-life care in Great Yarmouth and Waveney."When my daughter Louise died in 1998, I vowed to dedicate my life to improving end-of-life care in this community and across the country, and this project, alongside St Elizabeth Hospice, is a significant step toward that goal."This is something we know the community wants and needs. This community hospice building will make a drastic difference to so many people, improving local end-of-life care, giving people more options and support during their precious remaining time with loved ones." Ms Newman added: "We are delighted to submit this planning application and share our full plans with the wider community."With the invaluable support of Roberta Lovick and the Louise Hamilton Trust, we are in a strong position to develop the community hospice sustainably in a single phase."Ed Garratt, chief executive at Norfolk and Waveney ICB (N&W ICB), said: "This is a hugely welcome development, which aligns with our ambitions to enhance palliative and end-of-life care in our region."I wholeheartedly support this shared commitment from the voluntary sector, NHS and community in working together to improve services for the local population." Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
