Our care and services Archives - Page 5 of 22

St Ann’s Hospice hosts homelessness palliative care learning event

November 22, 2024 | 1:58pm

St Ann’s Hospice yesterday brought together professionals and frontline workers from heath, housing, local authority, social care and third sector services and sector-leading guest speakers at a learning event about the experiences of death and dying for people experiencing homelessness.

St Ann’s has been running a Homeless Palliative Care Service across the ten boroughs of Greater Manchester since 2020, funded as a five-year scoping project by the National Lottery Community Fund (formerly the Big Lottery Fund).

Colleagues, partners and collaborators from across Greater Manchester and beyond were invited to the event at Friends Meeting House in Manchester City Centre to hear the key findings from the project, to consider them together and drive meaningful change.

St Ann’s have this week published an evaluation report of the Homeless Palliative Care Service. As it stands, the service will end in January 2025 as further funding has not yet been secured.

Speaking at the event were Heidi McIntyre and Niamh Brophy, current and former Homeless Palliative Care Coordinators at St Ann’s; Professor James Kingsland OBE, a primary care physician, national clinical lead of a programme that addresses health inequalities across England and world authority on heathcare reform; and Dr Gemma Yarwood and Dr Gary Witham, senior researchers in Substance Use and Associated Behaviours at the School of Nursing and Public Health at Manchester Metropolitan University.

Also presenting were Dr David Waterman, Medical Director at St Ann’s and Greater Manchester Palliative Clinical Lead; Ryan Young, Inclusion Health GP Lead at Brownlow Homeless Health Inclusion Service in Liverpool; Hayley Jones, Director of Homeless Services and Katie Taylor, Director of Specialist Services at YMCA Hestia House in Liverpool; and Beth Plant, Funding Manager from the National Lottery Community Fund.

Many of the speakers touched on the fact that Manchester faces one of the most severe homelessness challenges in the UK, ranking third-highest for homelessness per capita.

People experiencing homelessness – in all its forms – are known to be one of the groups who experience inequitable access to palliative and end-of-life care.

As homelessness continues to rise across the UK, so too does the level of advanced, deteriorating ill health, which is reflected in the increasing number of deaths. Many of the day’s speakers emphasised the need for equitable access to palliative care being essential to improve the experience of death and dying for people experiencing homelessness. Often this can mean people dying as comfortably as possible, in a dignified way, in a place of their choosing.

Rachel McMillan, Chief Executive of St Ann’s, opened and closed the event. She said:

“This event represents an invaluable opportunity to come together with a common purpose: addressing the critical needs of people experiencing homelessness who are facing life-limiting illnesses. Homelessness is compounded by unmet health needs and shortened life expectancy. This work is more urgent than ever. Together, we will discuss how we can expand our reach and deepen our impact.

By uniting our knowledge and resources and having a mindset of collaboration, we can build a healthcare system that is more accessible, inclusive, responsive, and compassionate, ensuring that support reaches everyone who needs it.

Rachel McMillan, Chief Executive, St Ann’s Hospice

The theme of collaboration was echoed throughout the day by speakers and attendees.

Since St Ann’s launched the Homeless Palliative Care Service, it has delivered over 131 case-managed interventions, provided more than 250 digital services to reduce exclusion, and offered significant and consistent in-reach support to high-need hostels.

Rachel said: “Our trauma-informed, flexible approach has shown the profound impact that inclusive, tailored care can have on those who might otherwise feel invisible within the healthcare system.”

Emma Dixon, Director of Clinical Services at St Ann’s, hosted the event, and Emma Barclay, Head of Clinical Services, conducted a multi-disciplinary team (MDT) panel discussion focusing on a case study of a person experiencing homelessness who was cared for at St Ann’s Hospice in the last year, highlighting both the positive outcomes achieved and the challenges of this work.

The event was closed with a call to action for those in the room to commit to improving outcomes for those experiencing homelessness.

By investing our time, resources, and collective commitment, we can ensure that no one, regardless of their circumstances, faces their journey alone. Let’s seize this moment to drive meaningful change, expanding support and improving outcomes for those experiencing homelessness in our communities.

Rachel McMillan, Chief Executive, St Ann’s Hospice

The evaluation report of the Homeless Palliative Care Service at Ann’s Hospice is available to download from our website here.

For more information on the Homeless Palliative Care Service, or to make a referral if you are a health or social care professional (including support workers and hostel staff), see our website here.

If you have any questions or would like to discuss anything with our Homeless Palliative Care Coordinator, please email Heidi McIntyre at HMcIntyre@sah.org.uk.

St Ann’s gears up to celebrate Allied Health Professions Day!

October 14, 2024 | 8:30am

By Frances Brown – Rehabilitation Team Leader, St Ann’s Hospice

This Monday, everyone at St Ann’s Hospice will be delighted, once again to celebrate Allied Health Professions (AHPs) Day, a day dedicated to our Physiotherapists, Lymphoedema Team, and Occupational Therapists.

AHP is a term that encompasses a range of healthcare roles to assess, diagnose, and treat patients. We are the third largest clinical workforce in the NHS after nurses and midwives, and work as part of the wider multidisciplinary team.

As the Rehabilitation Team Leader here at St Ann’s Hospice, I know first-hand how important it is to recognise the vital work all our AHPs do to achieve the goals that matter most to our patients and help to maximise independence in people to self-manage their condition, as part of our rehabilitative approach.

We have 10 AHPs working here at St Ann’s who work in a whole breadth of different roles.

Our Head of Clinical Services Emma Barclay is also an Occupational Therapist with extensive experience in the role.

Emma has worked as an Occupational Therapist for 23 years in a range of health and social care settings.

She is passionate about high quality person centred rehabilitative palliative care, the value of Occupational Therapy and leading change as an Occupational Therapist.

This AHP Day is a great opportunity to share the extent of what we do, and to showcase the different skills that add to the mix of the whole multidisciplinary team.

At St Ann’s and here in the Rehab Team, we are really keen to focus on a person-centred approach.

A lot of our work is being able to ask the right questions and work together with the wider clinical team to manage a symptom for somebody, if the symptom becomes even a little more manageable, we can then work towards a goal, for example of getting someone home to spend some time with their grandchild, or if they are with us for end-of-life care, perhaps a meet up with friends to watch the football, or getting their dog to come in might be what is most important; we work hard to help people achieve these wishes on a day-to-day basis.

Frances Brown, Rehabilitation Team Leader, St Ann’s Hospice

We’re also always trying to learn and educate ourselves as AHPs, particularly here in St Ann’s. Bobby Magee, who is an experienced Physiotherapist at the hospice, is now training to be an Advanced Clinical Practitioner by completing a two-year Master’s degree. This is a great opportunity for Bobby and the wider team that he can bring his physiotherapy knowledge and experience into this senior role.

He has already slotted into the role and it has already been beneficial because he is bringing everything that he learns to the table along with his years of physio knowledge.

Below you will find short biographies of some of our team of ten AHPs based here in the hospice.

Lucy Kesek – Physiotherapist

Lucy Kesek

Lucy is from Shropshire and has been working at St Ann’s as a physiotherapist since July, 2023. Her main day-to-day roles involve:

Collaborating and liaising with the multidisciplinary team (MDT) to ensure patients are referred to and supported by the rehab team appropriately.
Supporting patients to maintain their function and mobility as much as possible.
Working with patients and carers to support them with what matters most, focusing on their quality of life.
Ensuring regular review and providing individuals with mobility aids/equipment as required to maintain their function and independence.
Supporting patients to achieve their goals.
Supporting patients with symptoms such as pain and breathlessness, using a non-pharmacological approach.
Supporting patients to return home safely, collaborating with Occupational Therapist colleagues to ensure appropriate equipment and adaptations are in place.

As a physiotherapist in the rehab team, Lucy works with patients to support them with what matters most.

“Physiotherapy at St Ann’s is important as we promote a Rehabilitative approach in palliative care; integrating enablement, self-management and a holistic approach to care,” Lucy said.

We collaborate with the multidisciplinary team to help patients to live well and live fully, supporting them with managing changes in their function as a result of their condition. We aim to support patients to optimise their function, independence and wellbeing.

Lucy Kesek, Physiotherapist, St Ann’s Hospice

Lymphoedema Team

Fiona Sanderson, Lisa Wong, and Lucie Casserley make up the Lymphoedema Team here at St Ann’s Hospice and the team’s day-to-day duties involve:

The assessing of patients for lymphoedema and lipoedema that are both cancer and non-cancer related.
Creating care plans for patients.
Educating patients to self-manage skincare, exercise, weight management and teaching lymphatic drainage.
Undertaking intensive treatment such as bandaging for several weeks at a time.
Working widely with other specialities such as GPs, district nurse, tissue viability teams, rehab, the Inpatient Unit (IPU), etc.

It is vital that St Ann’s Hospice has a Lymphoedema team as people are living longer with cancer and therefore living longer with the side effects of treatment. Lymphoedema is one of those side effects for those patients and it is important patients are able to self-manage this chronic condition with support

Lucie Casserley, Lymphoedema Team, St Ann’s Hospice

Bobby Magee – Trainee Advanced Clinical Practitioner

Bobby has a background in physiotherapy and is now undertaking a two-year Master’s degree, with support from St Ann’s to become an Advanced Clinical Practitioner (ACP).

The role of an ACP is designed to transform and modernise pathways of care, enabling the safe and effective sharing of skills across traditional professional boundaries.

ACPs are healthcare professionals, educated to a Master’s level or equivalent, with the skills and knowledge to allow them to expand their scope of practice to better meet the needs of the people they care for. ACPs work across all healthcare settings and work at a level of advanced clinical practice that pulls together the four ACP pillars of clinical practice, leadership and management, education and research.

Bobby is currently a trainee ACP while he undergoes his studies but still works in the hospice, bringing the new expertise he learns to the role.

His day-to-day duties as a trainee ACP include:

Conducting patient assessments.
Developing and adjusting care plans.
Prescribing medications within the scope of practice.
Performing clinical procedures.
Collaborating with other healthcare professionals.
Participating in multidisciplinary team meetings.
Contributing to complex care decisions.
Studying and researching to expand knowledge and skills.
Shadowing experienced ACPs or physicians.
Gradually taking on more complex cases under supervision.
Providing patient and family education.
Continuing to offer emotional support to patients and families.
Helping to coordinate care services.
Participating in quality improvement initiatives and service developments.
Providing leadership and assisting in training other staff members.

Bobby believes that a Trainee Advanced Practitioner is vital for the hospice because they bring new expertise, enhance patient care, bridge gaps between nursing and medical roles, and help meet the growing demand for specialised palliative care.

Combining my physiotherapy skills with advanced clinical training I can offer comprehensive care that addresses both the medical and functional aspects of patient health, ultimately leading to better outcomes and improved patient satisfaction.

Bobby Magee, Trainee Advanced Clinical Practitioner, St Ann’s Hospice

Patient praises St Ann’s staff

September 18, 2024 | 2:46pm

Staff at St Ann's Hospice, Heald Green Kay Madison, Megan Willington, Suzanne Willans with former inpatient John Webber

John Webber, a patient at St Ann’s Hospice in Heald Green has said the hard work and dedication of staff has allowed him to get back home.

The 86-year-old of Stockport was diagnosed with prostate cancer approximately seven years ago. Earlier this year, John’s cancer spread to his liver.

Upon arriving at St Ann’s Hospice, John says he was in a “sorry state”. He is a double leg amputee, losing his first a number of years ago due to a vascular disease, and then losing the second only a few weeks before his arrival to St Ann’s.

John has been cared for at St Ann’s and is now able to go home. He says the staff and the relationships he made at the hospice with other patients gave him a new lease of life.

“I didn’t know much about St Ann’s and the word hospice seemed to be a bit different from hospital. People were telling me it was a very nice place,” John said.

“I can only say that I’m more than impressed. Even I have donated to the organisation because it depends on donations. I just feel so thankful.

According to John, the staff go above and beyond for their patients even when it comes to something simple like food orders.

“They’ll do their best to make anything you like. I’ll give you a wonderful example. There was one night when I had my evening meal and I didn’t order much. Then in the night , I felt a bit peckish.

“One of the staff asked if I would like a jam butty and a hot chocolate, oh that was my idea of heaven. Just what I wanted. Not only that but she cut the crust off the bread. That just reflects the kind of place this is.”

I can only say that I’m more than impressed. Even I have donated to the organisation because it depends on donations. I just feel so thankful.

John Webber, St Ann’s Hospice patient

John said that now he is discharged he has to “change his life”.

“I can’t walk, which should be a real adjustment but I’ll make the best of the time that I’ve got left. It’s a nice sunny day so the first port of call will be a nice cup of tea in the garden,” he said.

St Ann’s Hospice joins Manchester Pride festivities

September 12, 2024 | 12:29pm

This was the second year running that St Ann’s Hospice joined the Manchester Pride Parade, with staff, volunteers, family members and supporters coming together to walk as part of the St Ann’s entry on an important day for our community in Greater Manchester.

It’s important to everyone at St Ann’s that we ensure we do what we can to overcome barriers that traditionally prevent certain groups, including the LGBTQ+ community, from accessing palliative and end-of-life care.

The Manchester Pride theme this year was ‘Buzzin’ to be Queer – A Hive of Progress’, with the focal symbol being the worker bee, an iconic emblem of Manchester. Some of our walkers really ran with the theme, decked out in black and yellow antennae, wings and accessories alongside rainbow face paint and glitter.

Walkers included lots of clinical and non-clinical staff based at our Heald Green and Little Hulton hospices, staff and volunteers from our charity shops, and staff members from corporate supporters Gallaghers, who covered the cost of our banners and merch.

On our banners, t-shirts and flags was our message: “death doesn’t discriminate, neither do we.” We also gave out St Ann’s stickers, and sweets that were kindly donated by Swizzels.

Our Mascot Stann also walked with us, alongside the St Ann’s ambulance which had been decorated with hand-drawn rainbow bees and honeycomb.

Before the parade, Fran Brown, Rehab Team Leader at St Ann’s, said:

My reasons for joining the parade are helping to ensure that there are fewer barriers to all people accessing our organisation. I’m really proud of what we do here; we use the rehabilitative approach to palliative care, which enables choice and control for patients. The more people that can access our services with a positive outcome the better.
I’m also a huge fan of bees – I keep a few at home – so am excited for a bit of dress up too!

Fran Brown, Rehab Team Leader, St Ann’s Hospice

The Manchester Pride Parade marked the final Pride event of the year for St Ann’s. We also had a presence again at Stockport Pride and Salford Pride’s Pink Picnic in June.

If you have any feedback or ideas about how St Ann’s could support our communities, please get in touch on communications@sah.org.uk.

Maisie takes on a new running challenge

September 4, 2024 | 2:20pm

Could you join #TeamStAnns by running the Manchester Marathon or the Great Manchester Run next year?

You can take part in the 22nd year of the iconic Great Manchester Run on Sunday 18^th May!

The epic 10km or half marathon challenge is a highlight of our events calendar each year and an amazing way to support St Ann’s by taking up a free charity place.

If you’re up for a bigger challenge, you can get a discounted charity place through St Ann’s Hospice to run the Manchester Marathon on Sunday 27^th April.

This is an iconic event drawing participants from all over the world to the vibrant streets of Greater Manchester. 2024 saw a record-breaking 32,000 people sign up to take on the challenge and 2025 is set to be the biggest year yet!

Maisie Grice has been connected to St Ann’s Hospice for a long time, and she’s taking on a new challenge to raise money for the charity close to her heart.

When Maisie was 11 years old her nana was diagnosed with bowel cancer, and during some of her final weeks she stayed at our Little Hulton hospice.

Maisie says: “It’s now 10 years later and I still remember the kindness, grace and care they showed not only my nana but the rest of my family as well.”

Maisie ran the Great Manchester Run 10k this year, raising an incredible £1,000 for St Ann’s. Next year, Maisie is taking on another challenge, running the Great Manchester Run half marathon.

My nana had such great care at the hospice, it meant so much to all of us as a family. My grandad loved the hospice too, and he sadly passed away two years ago, so with both of them gone my family want to continue supporting St Ann’s Hospice. The hospice was a very peaceful place, and I just remember everyone being so lovely, so they are the lasting memories I have of St Ann’s Hospice all these years later.

Maisie Grice, St Ann’s supporter

Whether you’re an experienced marathoner or a first-time runner, these events could be your chance to make a difference.

The St Ann’s Fundraising Team will help and guide you through with fundraising support and training plans, and you will also get a free running vest and be able to celebrate at a post-race drinks reception.

You can sign up for a place in next year’s Manchester Marathon or Great Manchester Run by clicking here, or you can contact the Events Team at events@sah.org.uk or 0161 498 3631.

A decade of support

July 22, 2024 | 3:45pm

St Ann’s were incredible with everything they did for my mum. From the moment she went into St Ann’s, Mum was so much brighter.

Joanna Kiely

Jo has reached out to our Let’s Talk counselling service three times, and has been welcomed by our team each time. Her first sessions helped her to get through the first Christmas without her mum.

In 2017, Jo lost her brother Dave very suddenly. She said: “Dave’s death absolutely destroyed me. I contacted St Ann’s after this and immediately started having counselling sessions again, they welcomed me back straight away.”

At the start of last year Jo took a huge step backward in her grief journey. “I felt ashamed about this step backwards and it took me longer than it should have to contact St Ann’s. I never should’ve worried about this though as I was booked in for more sessions which have helped me so much. I truly wouldn’t be standing if it wasn’t for the hospice.”

A regular, reliable income is vital to St Ann’s, so that we can care for the patients and loved ones like Joanna who need us – now and in the future.

Giving regular donations is one way of helping us to sustain the continuing support we provide. It provides a predictable income stream for the hospice, allowing us to better plan for the future, be more efficient, and ensure we can help as many people impacted by life-limiting illness as possible.

You can choose to donate monthly, quarterly or annually, and the amount is up to you too.

£8.55 could pay for food for a day for one of our inpatients.
£30.60 could pay for a bereavement session for someone like Joanna.

Joanna’s story demonstrates what an impact your donations can make. Because of your support we are able to be there for people like Joanna to support through the grieving journey. Every penny contributes to creating a better experience for those in our care and their families.

Rachel McMillan, Chief Executive, St Ann’s Hospice

It only takes two minutes to set up a donation on our website here.

If you have any questions, contact the Supporter Care Team on 0161 498 3631 or supporter@sah.org.uk.

Celebrating Pride at St Ann’s

July 9, 2024 | 4:23pm

We’ve been celebrating Pride Month throughout June again this year at St Ann’s Hospice, and we’re delighted to be capping it off with the news that we will be returning to the Manchester Pride Parade this year – and you can join us!

In 2023, St Ann’s staff, volunteers, supporters, and family members and friends of patients came together to walk alongside each other in our inaugural Manchester Pride Parade entry. It was a fantastic day filled with joy, alongside important conversations and connections being strengthened with the LGBTQ+ community.

We’re thrilled to be doing it all again this year on Saturday 24th August, and you – our amazing supporters – have the opportunity to join us.

You can now register your place to walk in our parade entry, or find out more information, by clicking here. We are limited to 75 places for walkers, and they will be allocated on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Last year, we asked our #TeamStAnns walkers why it was important to them to take part in Pride…

To support the organisation I am proud to work for with my partner, as we were also celebrating our 18 year anniversary of when she asked me to be her girlfriend at Pride.

Nicole Manley, Deputy Head of Clinical Services, St Ann’s Hospice

I’ve worked at St Ann’s Hospice for nearly 30 years and feel privileged to represent the inclusive care we give to all our patients. It’s important to reach out to LGBTQ+ community to show that St Ann’s Hospice cares.

Suzanne Willians, Heald Green Inpatient Unit, St Ann’s Hospice

We’ve seen just how inclusive an organisation St Ann’s is. It’s not just lip service, it’s embedded in your culture and that deserves to be celebrated.

St Ann’s partner and supporter

I love having a day full of happiness and love. The amount of people that showed up is out of this world. It’s definitely a day I would recommend to anyone.

St Ann’s corporate supporter

If you’d like to join #TeamStAnns for Manchester Pride, click here.

Manchester Pride will our final Pride event of the summer, having attended Stockport Pride and Salford Pride’s Pink Picnic in June.

As the Progress Pride flags hung outside our Heald Green and Little Hulton hospices for Pride Month, our Stockport vintage and bridal shop got into the rainbow spirit with a special shop window for Stockport Pride on Sunday 2nd June.

Our stall at Stockport Pride raised money for the hospice by glittering up the faces of attendees, as well as offering LGBTQ+ specific palliative care resources that have been developed by St Ann’s.

Later in the month we had a similar presence in Salford, with hospice volunteers offering resources and signposting and having some valuable conversations with the community at the well-attended Pink Picnic on Saturday 22nd June.

St Ann’s remains committed to breaking down barriers which have traditionally prevented equity in access to palliative care for groups including the LGBTQ+ community, and aim to ensure we are a fully inclusive organisation. If you have any feedback or ideas to share about how we could support the LGBTQ+ community further, please email communications@sah.org.uk.

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.

Theme: Our care and services