News story Archives - Page 19 of 86

Director of Clinical Services shortlisted as Nurse Leader of the Year

July 4, 2024 | 5:31pm

St Ann’s Hospice is proud to announce the news that our Director of Clinical Service, Emma Dixon, has been shortlisted in the Nurse Leader of the Year category at the Nursing Times Awards 2024.

This award recognises the fundamental role clinical leaders have in in ensuring the quality of nursing practice and patient care. The best act as excellent role models and demonstrating compassion and a commitment to ensuring their service offers the highest quality and safest care possible.

Speaking about her nomination, Emma said: “I am truly shocked and deeply humbled to be considered in this way and to be shortlisted for the award. It is a great honour to work at St Ann’s Hospice and to lead alongside such an incredible team.”

The award aims to recognise those nurse leaders who are aware of their patients’ needs and are firm advocates on their behalf, understand the importance of informing and reassuring patients and relatives, and have the skills to lead, support and motivate a team that is committed to offering excellent and compassionate care to all patients.

The nomination for the award was spearheaded by Head of Clinical Services at St Ann’s Hospice, Emma Barclay. The submission described Emma Dixon’s dedication and commitment to her work, making her a remarkable asset to the St Ann’s team. She shows compassion to every person she speaks to and sets an example for everyone working at St Ann’s.

Emma Barclay said: “As an Occupational Therapist I appreciate and value her inclusive approach to all health care professionals and her vision to embrace this fully. I am very proud to work with Emma in the clinical leadership team and if I were a nurse I’m pretty sure I would be even prouder to know that my profession was being represented by such a superb nurse in this vital leadership position.”

Emma Dixon is also the deputy chair of the Hospice UK National Clinical Leaders Group. Anita Hayes, Clinical Quality Lead at Hospice UK said: “Emma shares her knowledge and expertise generously within the group with a relentless focus on the values of palliative nursing and representing the voice of people with lived experience of using hospice services.

“It is a real pleasure working with Emma whose infectious enthusiasm, professionalism and care shines through encouraging and supporting colleagues and we thank her for her contribution.”

The winners of the Nursing Times Awards 2024 will be announced at event on Wednesday 23 October 2024.

St Ann’s Hospice celebrates Volunteers’ Week

June 5, 2024 | 5:15pm

This Volunteers’ Week we want to shine a light on some of the brilliant volunteers that dedicate time to helping St Ann’s Hospice, and volunteer roles you could take up too.

Mark is a Volunteer Online Sales Assistant based at our Distribution Centre in Reddish.

Mark says: “I was fortunate to be able to retire early at 56 years old, but I wanted to do something that could keep me active. I also wanted to give something back to the community in some way.

“You definitely need to come into volunteering with the right end goal, which is seeing what you can do for the hospice. There is so much camaraderie and teamwork, the Distribution Centre is a great and chilled place to volunteer.

I would definitely recommend volunteering to people, particularly for St Ann’s Hospice, where there are so many roles available, you are sure to find a role which suits you.

Mark, Online Sales Volunteer

St Ann’s Trading Company have many volunteer vacancies open to people who want to support their local hospice. These include distribution centre volunteers, online volunteers, Stockport shop volunteers, and Sale shop volunteers.

Harsha has been volunteering in St Ann’s Hospice’s Fundraising Team for the last two years.

Being in the fundraising office, hearing and seeing first-hand the incredible work the team do, their sheer commitment and joy rubbed off on me. I joined the Autumn Fair committee last year and we had a great time organising the event.

Harsha, Fundraising Volunteer

Harsha is also on the Summer Fair committee for this year and she loves being part of it.

The Community Fundraising Team at St Ann’s Hospice are looking for volunteers too, including people that can help with collection tins and those wanting to be in a new fundraising committee that will be set up in Sale and Altrincham.

Margaret has been a volunteer since 2006. She was inspired to volunteer at St Ann’s after the care shown to her father by the hospice, experiencing the kindness and care shown to him and all his family.

Each year she has worked tirelessly on our Light up a Life appeal leading up to Christmas, helping to create the Book of Honour with over 1,000 dedications. Last month, she was Highly Commended in the Long Service Award at the Stockport Rocks! Volunteer Awards.

Our Clinical Team are also looking for a volunteer driver for The Being You Centre. The purpose of this volunteering role is to transport patients who have no alternative means of transport to and from The Being You Centre. The hours for this role vary between 9am-4pm on Monday to Friday.

Retired physiotherapist and post-graduate educator Jenny Caunt started volunteering at St Ann’s in May 2022.

It keeps my brain working, I get a real sense of satisfaction and feel like I am contributing to St Ann’s. What’s so nice about St Ann’s is they are looking for volunteers to use their skills and for projects that benefit the volunteer as well as the hospice. It’s really nice to carry on with something worthwhile.

Jenny Caunt, Volunteer

For more information on how you can start volunteering at St Ann’s Hospice and make a difference in your community, click here.

Building work underway at St Ann’s long-awaited Heald Green hospice

June 4, 2024 | 4:35pm

Work to develop St Ann’s new hospice in Heald Green is now underway as Caddick Construction begins the main building work to replace our current hospice at St Ann’s Road North.

The start of building work is the culmination of an extensive period of engagement between Caddick and St Ann’s to bring to life our ambitious plans to secure the future of the hospice, providing much-needed specialist palliative and end-of-life care for generations to come.

The project includes a modernised 27-bedroom inpatient unit to help those impacted by life limiting illnesses across Greater Manchester.

With work now underway, Caddick will build two separate buildings connected by a linked corridor. Features will include outpatient services, dedicated bereavement and family support spaces surrounded by landscaped gardens.

The first building will house the main reception, cafe, kitchen, training space and offices as well as a Being You Centre for outpatient services. The second building will be home to the inpatient unit and family overnight rooms.

Located within the boundary of the Cheadle Royal conservation area, the new hospice will replace our existing Heald Green hospice, which is located in an adjacent Victorian building that is no longer fit for purpose.

The new St Ann’s Hospice development is the result of extensive fundraising, including thorough our Build it Together appeal, which has seen us raise more than £1.1 million to-date from public donations. The campaign aims to raise £2 million to contribute to this ambitious project.

Preparation for the development began earlier in the year, including shrub and ground clearance works ahead of the main construction activities, which are due for completion late 2025.

Rachel McMillan, Chief Executive at St Ann’s Hospice, said: “Our plans for a new hospice have been years in the making and it is wonderful to reach this important milestone in the project. I am very much looking forward to watching the new hospice take shape as Caddick starts their work.

We are committed to being here for the people of Greater Manchester for generations to come and this new hospice will mean we can continue to provide the outstanding care that our patients and their loved ones deserve.

Rachel McMillan, Chief Executive, St Ann’s Hospice

Dave Saville, Regional Managing Director of Caddick Construction North West, commented: “St Ann’s Hospice have worked tirelessly to get their new hospice development off the ground, and we are very proud to have been on that journey with them. A project of such importance to the community calls for a great deal of care and attention, and it also requires a keen eye on ensuring we explore value for money at every opportunity. I joined Caddick at the start of this year, and while our involvement in this incredible project began long before I joined, I am very proud to lead a team that has been so dedicated to making this project a reality.

With the main works now underway, we will continue to work closely with St Ann’s Hospice to ensure their new development enables them to offer the very best care and support for those in Greater Manchester who need it most.

Dave Saville, Regional Managing Director, Caddick Construction North West

Caddick Construction is part of the wider project team working on the new hospice. Genr8 Developments LLP are project managers for the new build and architects PRP has been working with St Ann’s for several years to design the building and get to this stage in the project.

The interior design of St Ann’s Hospice’s new building will be led by Axi, who is designing and bringing to life the purpose-built hospice that is much needed by patients and their families.

Also working on the project are cost consultants Gardner & Theobald, TRP as the structural engineers and TACE as the Mechanical and Engineering consultants.

Volunteer complementary therapist Pat giving back to St Ann’s who cared for her mum

May 28, 2024 | 9:49am

Like many other people, Pat has a personal connection to her local hospice which is why she started volunteering. Pat says: “My mother was cared for by St Ann’s for a short while at the Heald Green site. This was during the pandemic, so there were lots of restrictions in place but St Ann’s were so good at letting me stay with my mum when I could.

“My mum found the care given to her incredible, and although she sadly passed away three years ago, it changed her life and my family’s life so much being connected to St Ann’s Hospice.

“I then got into a routine of raising money in different ways for the hospice, and attended the Autumn Fair last year. I met a complementary therapist when I was there and she gave me a hand massage. I explained to her that I knew about massage techniques as I had volunteered at the Christie previously. I had a friend with cancer who was involved with the Christie and enjoyed the complimentary therapy she received which is what got me into it.

“After losing my mum I wanted to give back and find a way to spend my time now I didn’t have my mum to look after at home.”

Complementary therapy was not the profession that Pat had practiced, having been a teacher in Worsley for 37 years prior. However, Pat did a full range of training and has transferred that to work with cancer patients and those with life-limiting conditions.

Pat now volunteers one day a week at the Little Hulton site and she finds this so rewarding. “I get far more out of the complimentary therapy than what I am able to give, the patients are so lovely and so accepting of any help I can give them.

“I know there are so many ways you can volunteer, I’ve met lots of other people volunteering in different parts of the hospice.”

When Pat arrives at the hospice she checks in with the rehab team who share their handover notes with her, which detail which patients would like therapy that day. The complementary therapy team can deliver lots of treatments, many of which help patients sleep, relax them or help alleviate pain problems. These include Reiki healing sessions, reflexology and more specific guided massages on the feet.

“There are a range of treatments I offer patients, and I have recently given these treatments to friends and family who are with their loved one at the hospice. They are also in need of relaxation and attention, so it’s nice I can be there for them as well.

“Many patients have never been pampered, understandably because a lot of the people are older, so it isn’t something that’s been part of their lifestyle. Often men have never been offered these treatments before either.

“I thoroughly enjoy being part of the complementary therapy team as a volunteer. I can always speak to the doctors and nurses at the wards, and they all recognise that we are working together for the holistic wellbeing of the people that are at St Ann’s. I couldn’t recommend volunteering more.”

Important news about Moya’s Manchester Walk

May 15, 2024 | 10:02am

It’s with great disappointment that we announce St Ann’s Hospice’s upcoming Moya’s Manchester Walk, due to take place on 14th June 2024, has regrettably been cancelled. This has been a very difficult decision to make and we understand, like us, our wonderful supporters will be disappointed.

Our reason for cancellation is we have not had sufficient participant sign-ups to make the walk financially viable or to provide participants with a great experience.

The walk is a fundraising event and monies raised contribute to the vital funds we need to help provide our hospice services, and therefore we have to ensure that the cost of running the event is met from the sign-up fees, associated sponsorships and donations. On this occasion, should the event have gone ahead, the hospice would have had a shortfall.

Our Events Team have contacted all registered participants to advise them of the news directly.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact the Events Team on events@sah.org.uk or 0161 498 3631.

St Ann’s extends sincere apologies for any inconvenience and disappointment. We truly value our supporters and thank you for your understanding.

What’s on?

From fundraising fairs and sporting challenges to special services and our legendary warehouse sales – there’s something in our events calendar for everyone.

View upcoming events

The importance of Dying Matters Awareness Week at St Ann’s Hospice

May 6, 2024 | 12:53pm

Dying Matters Awareness Week takes place from 6th-12th May and this year HospiceUK are focusing on the language that we use and the conversations we have around death and dying. Particularly, the way that healthcare professionals, patients, their carers and families talk about this.

I’ve worked at St Ann’s Hospice for 24 years, the first 15 of these being on the inpatient unit, and now working in our Being You centre. The Being You Centre is part of our outpatient section of the hospice, and our patients can access our services, therapies and sessions when needed.

We know there is a lot of fear around death and dying, which is why we try to open this conversation to our patients and their families when they’re ready. We all worry about similar aspects of dying; if it’s going to be painful, whether you’ll be on your own or with family, whether there will be the right support in place for you – which is why it’s important to have these conversations.

We often facilitate these conversations when patients have come to our Being You Centre and we know how much of a load it takes off each person’s shoulders. When someone mentions the word hospice to anyone, whether that’s a hospice patient or someone with no connection, they immediately think that that person has come to die. However, that is a big misconception that we want to dispel.

Often our patients at the Being You Centre are referred to us by their Macmillan nurse, GP or they can self-refer through our website. We find that because of the stigma around hospices, people are reluctant at first to come in. However, once they’ve seen a friendly face and understand our hospice isn’t just a place that people come to die, they’re very appreciative of the support we can give them.

We always want to see patients early in their journey, so that we can provide as much advice, guidance and support as we can throughout. This all begins with conversations around the future and for those with life-limiting illnesses who may still have months or years left, this is still important. Speaking to family and friends about this is also something we try to encourage, so that our patients can express their wishes and needs in a comfortable space.

At the Being You Centre we run a ‘Supporting You’ programme, which is six weeks long. One of the sessions focuses on future care planning, where we emphasise the importance of making plans and expressing wishes as early as we can. In addition, we also offer one-to-one sessions to our patients and their families to take these conversations further.

We know there is still a lot of work that needs to be done about removing the myths and stigma around hospices and how we care for people. Awareness weeks like this help to open up conversations around dying in a positive and safe way.

For more information on the services we provide at St Ann’s Hospice, please see our website at moyacole.org.uk/how-we-help/our-services/.

Support St Ann’s Hospice by taking on the Salford Triathlon and Aquabike 2024 this July

May 1, 2024 | 2:36pm

St Ann’s Hospice are honoured that this year’s Salford Triathlon & Aquabike event is supporting their charity. They’re encouraging supports who love a challenge to get involved in what promises to be a fantastic event.

The Salford Triathlon & Aquabike is on Sunday 28th July 2024 and takes place around the bustling MediaCityUK, Salford Quays.

The Triathlon involves a swim, bike and run in that order and the Aquabike is a swim and bike but no run. Something for everyone so why not sign up today to take on a challenge!

The event offers athletes of all abilities top class racing on fast, flat courses and whether you are an experienced athlete or a first timer making your debut in these fantastic sports, this is the race for you.

This is our second year organising this event and if it is anything like last year’s it is going to be special.We are really looking forward to supporting St Ann’s Hospice again and having their volunteers amazing energy on the day too. It’s such a great event for first timers to triathlon and those wanting to push it a little bit too.

Dave and Karen Quartermain, Founders of USwim

The route takes in landmarks such as the Lowry Theatre, Imperial War Museum North, Coronation Street and the BBC studios.

Marie Foster, Innovation and Digital Fundraiser at St Ann’s Hospice, says: “Dave and Karen supported St Ann’s back in January with their New Year’s Day swim and we’re really excited that they’re continuing to support the Hospice with this event.

“We’re really looking forward to volunteering and supporting all the athletes on the day and it would be fantastic to have some St Ann’s supporters taking part too!”

For more information and to sign up for the event check out the Triathlon’s website here.

Once you’ve signed up you can set up your JustGiving fundraising page to support St Ann’s here.

If you have any questions about the event, please get in touch with St Ann’s friendly events team by emailing events@sah.org.uk or calling them on 0161 498 3631.

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