Trinity staff call for community to ‘Heart My Hospice’ for Hospice Care Week

Trinity Hospice arranges special visitors for patients, such as the donkeys from the Donkey Sanctuary.

Staff at Trinity Hospice are sharing the reasons why they love where they work as part of Hospice Care Week, which this year is celebrating with a ‘Heart My Hospice’ theme.

The annual campaign is led by the national hospice and palliative care charity, Hospice UK, and encourages the community to get behind their local hospice in whatever way they can – a donation, volunteering or simply a post on social media.

A number of staff at the Bispham based hospice star in videos, which will be posted on the charity’s website, to tackle the taboo around hospice care and explain why they love what they do.

Among them is Deborah Wood, Sister on Trinity’s ‘Day Therapy Unit’ where people who have a non-curative condition are able to attend a 16-week course to meet others and enjoy relaxation and holistic therapies.

She said ‘The hospice is a very inspiring place and a very calming place to work. People often ask me how I could work in a hospice, but you’re mostly surrounded by joy and laughter. Here on the Day Therapy Unit we help offer a unique experience – patients learn from each other, they help each other to accept their diagnosis and their prognosis and together they boost their confidence and self-esteem. Our service has a massive impact on our patients’ quality of life. They tell us that we help them to feel normal – how wonderful is that?’

Quality and Governance Compliance Co-ordinator Joanne Nicholls says all the staff are involved in making memories for patients and their loved ones, including weddings and arranging special visitors.

She added ‘Every day as part of my job I get to see some of the amazing things that we do here at Trinity. That’s such a lovely part of working here – everybody pulls together for the benefit of the patients and everyone else that’s here.

Hospice Care Week runs from 8^th-14^th October. Anyone posting on social media should use the hashtag #HeartMyHospice.
Hospice Care Week will be promoted in some Trinity Hospice charity shops.