People Marie Curie
Marie Curie Cancer Care’s newspaper for staff and volunteers
february 2014
TOUGH OVERSEAS TRIPS LAUNCHED
GO GALLIC FOR TOUR DE FRANCE
CHALLENGING TIMES FOR COMMISSIONING
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PAGES 10-11
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Vietnam and Brazil treks and Niagara cycle among new events
Grand Depart fundraising ideas include yellow dressing and French-themed parties
Head of Commissioning Paul Harniess is preparing for change
CARER CONCERNS REVEALED IN STUDY Family carers’ top worries include lack of adequate support, poor coordination of services and the management of complex medication
Some people who care for a dying family through the death itself, and then what it member experience unnecessary distress, was like to live in the house after the person insufficient support and poor communication. had died.” These were some of the key findings of a major research project part-funded by Marie CARERS’ FEEDBACK Curie and set to be published soon. The researchers interviewed 59 family A team of researchers led by members who had cared for someone Professor Sheila Payne of who died at home (see box Lancaster University found below). They analysed the that carers were concerned interviews, identifying about poor coordination common themes. of services, didn’t feel Carers reported that adequately supported there was a wide range on practical matters of services available, and were worried about and they were able to get managing complex access to them. Professor medication. However, they were Sheila Payne Sheila said: “Family carers concerned about poor are absolutely vital for people coordination of services, with lots who want to die at home. We know of people coming into the house at that one of the major predictors of someone different times. Family members didn’t like being able to die at home is the presence of a having to do lots of different assessments family carer. We know much less about how with different healthcare or social care best to support the carers. providers. Carers said assessors often didn’t “We wanted to understand about their ask enough about whether they needed help experiences during the processes of caring, with practical things, like taking the patient to the bathroom and assisting with toileting, or keeping them clean. About the family carers study Sheila added: “One lady had spent the last eight months of her husband’s life sleeping • Study title: Unpacking the home: family on the sofa in the living room beside his carers’ reflections on dying at home bed, but none of the people coming in • Interviewed: 59 family members: 18 men, recognised this.” 41 women • Ages: the mean age was 71.2 years (range 44-90) MEDICINE MANAGEMENT • Key characteristic: interviewees had cared The research also revealed that family for a family member who had died at home members were often very concerned • Location: north-west and south-west about managing complex medication such England. as morphine. • Funding: Marie Curie Cancer Care and the Sheila expects the study to have a major Masonic Samaritan Fund influence on thinking about end of life care. Its results have already been used to produce
screen stars boost appeal Olivia Colman got behind Marie Curie’s Great Daffodil Appeal last month. The Broadchurch star and Downton Abbey actor Jim Carter voiced the charity’s radio campaign at a London studio. Olivia and Jim appealed for people to donate an hour of time during March to help collect donations and give out daffodil pins. See p4 for more on this year’s campaign. policy recommendations for the Help the Hospice Commission into the Future of Hospice Care. “We need to think more critically: is home best for everybody and, if so, how do we better prepare family carers and coordinate more effectively the services
that go into people’s homes?” she said. Once the full findings are published, Marie Curie’s research and policy teams will produce a policy report and the research will be publicised to external audiences through press and digital channels such as the charity’s blog.
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People February 2014
News you can do this month 5 Things 1. sign up as a collector The Great Daffodil Appeal is on its way and Marie Curie is asking all volunteers and staff to give two hours of their time to help with collections. It’s a great way to meet people in your local community and – crucially – every daffodil you hand out will help Marie Curie Nurses and hospices continue their vital care for patients. Sign up now by calling 0845 601 3107 or visiting mariecurie.org.uk/daffodil 2. Join the grand dEparty The Grand Départ, the start of the Tour de France, comes to the UK from 5-7 July. Marie Curie is the official charity partner and is throwing a Grand Départy to celebrate, with loads of fantastic fundraising opportunities. There’s a brand new fundraising pack, giving you all the ideas you need to hold your own Grand Départy, from sponsored cycles to French-themed dinner parties. Call 0845 052 4184 or email tourdefrance@mariecurie.org.uk to request a copy of the pack, or download it from the charity's website at mariecurie.org.uk/tourdefrance 3. clear out your cupboards Did you receive any Christmas gifts that just weren’t your style? If so, why not donate them to a Marie Curie Shop near you? The shops rely on good quality donated items such as clothing, shoes, linen, books, toys and china. And with spring on the way, it’s the perfect time to clear out your clutter. Visit mariecurie.org.uk/inyourarea to find your nearest shop. 4. TAKE ON A TREK Cycle from Niagara Falls to New York, or trek in Brazil or Vietnam to raise money for Marie Curie. The charity has just revealed three new overseas challenges, including its first-ever Vietnamese event. Trekkers will stay in traditional houses on stilts and explore Northern Vietnam, around Hanoi. The Brazil trek will take supporters through spectacular Atlantic rainforests. The trio of adventures join Marie Curie’s existing range of fundraising jaunts including a Great Wall of China Trek and Kilimanjaro climb. Find out more and sign up at mariecurie.org.uk/overseas and read more on page 8.
PROFESSOR APPOINTED TO CHARITY’S FIRST UNIVERSITY CHAIR Palliative care expert to take up University College London post in April Marie Curie Cancer Care and University College London have appointed Professor Paddy Stone as Marie Curie Chair in Palliative and End of Life Care. Paddy, who has worked in palliative medicine for 21 years, will take up the chair on 7 April. It is the first time Marie Curie has funded a professorship. He will lead an established team of researchers in the Marie Curie Palliative Care Research Unit, which is part of the Division of Psychiatry at the university’s Faculty of Brain Sciences. “UCL is one of the best universities in the world, so it’s fantastic that Marie Curie has invested resources into the academic department there,” said Paddy.
COLLABORATIVE WORKING Besides meeting his new colleagues, Paddy said he was most looking forward to working with Marie Curie’s national hospice and nursing teams “to combine the research expertise of UCL with the clinical expertise of Marie Curie clinical services”. Paddy said the chair would allow him to devote most of his time to
STAR MAN: Recipient of the Order of the Diplomatic Star, Anthony Packer
5. influence our research Tell Marie Curie which research areas you’d like it to address by taking part in a survey. The survey, developed by the charity in conjunction with the James Lind Alliance, offers an opportunity for you to directly influence the palliative and end of life care research agenda. It asks respondents to draw on their personal experiences of palliative and end of life care to think of questions that could be answered by research. The survey is online at www.palliativecarepsp.org.uk or request a copy by emailing peolcpsp@mariecurie.org.uk or by calling Katharine Peacock on 020 7091 4153.
People Marie Curie
Marie Curie People is the charity’s official newspaper for staff and volunteers. It is published monthly.
Editor: Nick Moulton Acting Editor: Rebecca Evans Writers:, Miriam Jones, May-Fern Lee, Ana Malinovic Designers: Artful Dog Publishing and Marie Curie Creative Services
research, and that he was keen to work collaboratively with other UCL departments, leading academic institutions in London and Marie Curie’s other research centres in Cardiff and Liverpool. Marie Curie’s Medical Director, Dr Bill Noble, welcomed the appointment, adding: “We are delighted that Paddy is joining us. Academically, he is one of the leading researchers of his generation in the field.” UCL’s Dean of the Faculty of Brain Sciences, Professor Alan J Thompson, said: “We have been very fortunate to have made such a strong appointment to this newly instituted chair of palliative care. Professor Stone brings a wealth of expertise to the role and is ideally placed to realise the full potential anticipated by Marie Curie and UCL in this exciting new development.” Marie Curie announced the £3.2 million grant for the chair and associated lecturing and student positions last year.
CV: Professor Paddy Stone ● Currently Professor of Palliative
Medicine at St George’s University of London ● Obtained Doctor of Medicine in cancer-related fatigue in 1999 ● Achieved membership of the Royal College of Physicians in 1993 ● Qualified as a doctor in 1990 ● Interests include running, squash, golf and chess
Read our 60-second interview with Professor Paddy Stone on page 19.
Cardiff patient honoured to receive Lithuanian knighthood A Welsh diplomat has been awarded Lithuania’s highest honour at the Marie Curie Hospice, Cardiff and the Vale. The Lithuanian ambassador presented Anthony Packer with the Order of the Diplomatic Star, which is the equivalent of a knighthood. Mr Packer is being cared for at the hospice. As he was too ill to travel, his wife asked if the ceremony could take place there. Speaking to the South Wales Echo, Mr Packer said of January’s presentation: “I felt humble and proud – a funny mixture. I wasn’t really expecting it. The ambassador gave me the title of chevalier, meaning I am a knight of Lithuania.” He has served as Honorary Consul for Lithuania in Wales since 2002. His achievements include forging strong links between universities in Wales and Lithuania, and organising a visit to Wales of Lithuania’s first post-Soviet president.
I felt humble and proud – a funny mixture. I wasn't really expecting it. Anthony parker, knight of lithuania
Repro by: Selsey Press Printed by: Mortons Managed & distributed by: CDL Circulation: 6,500
Marie Curie People needs your news. Send stories to Editor Nick Moulton, Creative Services, Marie Curie Cancer Care, 89 Albert Embankment, London, SE1 7TP. Email nick.moulton@mariecurie.org.uk or phone me on 020 7599 7706 and I’ll draft a story from your call.
February 2014 People
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Rugby stars unite for Great Daffodil Appeal Great Daffodil Appeal, which launches in Wales later this month. Simon Jones, Head of Policy and Public Affairs, Wales, said: “The Welsh rugby team have worn the Marie Curie daffodil before their Six Nations championship games in previous years. It’s fantastic that this year the Welsh Rugby Union are again giving us more
support including taking time out from their Autumn International training camp for the photo shoot.” For more information For more details see page 4. Sign up to collect for the Great Daffodil Appeal at mariecurie.org.uk/daffodil
IMAGE: Patrick Olner
Three Welsh rugby stars took time out from training last month to pose with Marie Curie Wales staff. Lloyd Williams, James Hook and Liam Williams (from left) posed with Community Fundraiser Helen Mulhern, Marie Curie Nurse Lesley Griffiths and Policy & Public Affairs Assistant Natasha Wynne to help promote the
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People February 2014
News
Join the Great Daffodil Appeal today Charity urges staff and volunteers to sign up and collect in March With less than a month to go until the launch of the Great Daffodil Appeal, Marie Curie is urging staff and volunteers to donate an hour to collect. Thousands of people have already signed up to collect this March, thanks to a big publicity campaign that launched in January. But the charity still needs many more collectors and is asking staff and volunteers to help it reach its most ambitious target yet of more than 25,000 people. Liz Thornton, Senior Fundraising Product Manager for the Great Daffodil Appeal, said: “It’s really encouraging that so many people have signed up for this year’s appeal, but we still need more to make 2014 the best year yet. “The success of the Great Daffodil Appeal depends on getting lots of people collecting in the streets, supermarkets and shopping centres – and that’s where Marie Curie staff and volunteers can make a difference. “We’d love to see more people sign up at mariecurie.org.uk/daffodil to donate an hour. And if they can sign up for more than one collection, then so much the better. There are lots of locations and dates to choose from and it’s great fun. Every £20 raised pays for an hour of nursing care. “Staff and volunteers can also help the campaign by spreading the word to
For more information, top tips and to sign up to the Great Daffodil Appeal, just visit mariecurie.org.uk/daffodil or call 0845 601 3107.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: Alex Hyde-Smith (left) is one of the many employees who have collected
everyone they know and encouraging them to sign up, too. Collecting with friends, family or other colleagues is great fun and can increase the money raised.” Volunteers and staff can find out more and sign up to collect by visiting
People are very friendly and generous. Many come and speak to me about their personal experiences, often because a friend or family member was cared for by Marie Curie Nurses. That’s one of the best bits about collecting. My top tip would be to keep smiling, even at the people who don’t give.” Cynthia Wenden, a Marie Curie Nurse for seven years, has collected for the Great Daffodil Appeal every year since she joined. Collecting is a great way to get to know our supporters by meeting them face to face, and it’s also great fun. My top tip would be to find an ice-breaker line that helps you approach people and ask for a donation. You could also wear a silly hat and be ultra-competitive with a group of colleagues to give you all something to play for.” Alex Hyde-Smith, Individual Giving Manager, Direct Giving, last year collected in London.
Real stories is theme for communications campaign mariecurie.org.uk/daffodil. Local Great Daffodil Appeal organisers will then get in contact to book them on to a collection. The charity has also urged staff and volunteers to spread the word by posting a Facebook status update including a link to the collector sign-up page, and to join the event at http://on.fb.me/1eFavOJ The Great Daffodil Appeal is Marie Curie’s biggest fundraiser and encourages everyone to give a donation and wear a daffodil pin during March. Last year, the appeal raised more than £7 million, enough to fund 350,000 hours of Marie Curie Nursing Care. This year the charity aims to raise more than £7.6 million from the appeal. FOR MORE INFORMATION For more information, top tips and to sign up to the Great Daffodil Appeal, just visit mariecurie.org.uk/daffodil or call 0845 601 3107.
Real Life Stories will be the theme of this year’s communications campaign in support of the Great Daffodil Appeal. The charity will use stories from people with a terminal illness and their families to illustrate the impact of Marie Curie Nursing on the care and support they received. The campaign will run from midFebruary through to the end of March and will roll out through TV, radio, PR, poster sites, and digital and social media channels. The TV commercial will be an updated version of the 2012 film featuring actress Alison Steadman talking about the care given to her mother by Marie Curie. Jacq Ellis-Jones, Great Daffodil Appeal Communications Manager, said: “We know from our market research the Alison Steadman commercial had a huge impact. It has been updated and re-edited for 2014.”
New Year Honours for volunteers and patron Joan was instrumental in establishing Two volunteers and a Highland patron the City Friends Fundraising Group in have been awarded New Year Honours in December 2011. The group raised over this year’s list. £18,000 in its first year through Joan Doherty from Derry in Northern organising collections and a variety Ireland, was awarded an MBE for 2014 was the first of events. her services to local charities, while year in which more As well as her dedicated efforts Margaret Collinson was recognised women were chosen in volunteering for Marie Curie, with a BEM for her outstanding Joan’s award also recognises her services to volunteering. Highland for honours commitment to other local charities. Patron Lady Claire Macdonald than men Margaret has volunteered at received an OBE for her services to the Marie Curie Hospice, Edinburgh for the hospitality industry and to charity in over 22 years, serving tea and coffee to Scotland, particularly Marie Curie.
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patients and arranging flowers for the wards. She has also run fundraising events, raising £7,500 over three years. Margaret also volunteers for other organisations.
Huge congratulations are due to all three of our deserving supporters Siân White
Lady Claire and her husband, Lord Godfrey Macdonald, also a Marie Curie patron, have spent over 40 years in hospitality and contribute tirelessly to Marie Curie, including chairing the Skye Fundraising Group. Vonnie Carson, Community Fundraiser, said: “Claire and Godfrey are both energetic and relentless in their efforts. It is a fitting recognition.” Volunteer Engagement Officer Siân White said: “Huge congratulations are due to all three of our deserving supporters.”
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News
Charity to pilot real-time feedback in scotlAND Marie Curie Cancer Care is about to pilot “There’s also a big drive to monitor and real-time feedback from patients and improve on patient experiences across the families across Scotland. NHS as a result of the Francis Report, and From 1 March, the charity will use a an expectation from our commissioners new system which enables feedback to be that Marie Curie can also demonstrate a immediately relayed to managers in the commitment to the patient experience.” Marie Curie Nursing Service and at its “We know that there are things that we hospices in Glasgow and Edinburgh. can do to increase our response rates to At Marie Curie Hospices, volunteers requests for feedback. For example, when will take iPads around the building a volunteer visits patients to help them and ask patients about their fill out hospice comments cards, experience of Marie Curie we get a higher response rate.” services. In the Marie The charity currently Number of feedback carries out an annual user Curie Nursing Service, corporate volunteers from survey, and patients and responses Marie Zurich Community Trust families can feed back in Curie is aiming for will phone patients and many more ways, including each year families for feedback. postal surveys, emails, Ben Gadd, Patient and feedback cards in hospices and a Family Feedback Development survey on Marie Curie’s website. Manager said: “We want to find out how Glasgow Hospice Manager Nichola useful the system is for managers, how Summers said: “Annually, we get around patients and carers find it, and whether it 40 responses, and we have been advised helps us to increase the response rate. that we need nearer 400 – 10% of “Marie Curie is passionate about being our patients – to meet our regulatory a customer-focused organisation and requirements. wants to give greater encouragement “Our current annual survey is a to people who use the service to feed snapshot of how patients feel at one time. back on how we’re doing and – where But we don’t know, for example, if it necessary – how we can improve. varies throughout the year.”
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data sharing drive Marie Curie has lent its support to a campaign by the Association of Medical Research Charities to allow their anonymised medical data to be made available to researchers. The charity, which is a member of the AMRC, hopes the drive will persuade more people not to opt out of allowing their data to be accessed by researchers, as such information is invaluable for studies to improve patient care and support for carers. RUNNING TIPS
Marie Curie is passionate about being a customerfocused organisation and wants to encourage people to feed back on how we’re doing. Ben Gadd
New partnership in Scotland helps terminally ill young adults A new partnership between Marie Curie and the Children’s Hospice Association Scotland (CHAS) will give terminally ill young adults the best possible end of life care at home. The Rest Assured Home Service offers young people over the age of 16 with terminal illnesses the choice to spend their final days at home. It is the first time that such a service has been offered in Scotland. A team made up of CHAS, a Marie Curie clinical nurse manager and a district nurse will work with patients and their families to discuss how their needs can be met within their own home. This will help alleviate stress and reduce the need for hospital or hospice admissions. Harry Bunch, Project Manager, said: “This new initiative will help many young adults at a very difficult time in their lives. By working together, we can provide care packages tailored to each young person’s needs, delivered in the comfort of their own home, where they would most like to be.”
NEWS IN BRIEF
Camila Fernandez, a member of East London running community Run Dem Crew, is blogging for Marie Curie at blog.mariecurie.org.uk as she trains for the London Marathon. Camila (pictured), whose father was cared for by Marie Curie Nurses at the end of his life, is posting blogs in the run-up to the marathon, sharing her training progress, motivations and tips. On 13 April, more than 180 people will be pounding the pavements to raise money for Marie Curie during the London Marathon. hampstead upgrade A major refurbishment of the day therapy unit at the Marie Curie Hospice, Hampstead is set to be completed at the end of February. Builders from Wilmot Dixon started knocking down partition walls in December, and are now completing improvements to the lounge, gym and reception area. Hospice Manager Jackie Laidlaw said: “The new walls will be part-glass, allowing more light into corridors that were previously quite dark. We will have a bigger gym, and improved ventilation.”
Recognition for outstanding hospice garden The garden at the Marie Curie Hospice, Newcastle has been placed in the top category in the Northumbria in Bloom awards. Judges awarded the garden category five – outstanding – in the It’s Your Neighbourhood category. The garden is maintained by volunteers Angela Sadler, Andrew Ball and Margaret Hayes, as well as contract gardener Envirocare. Facilities Manager Gill White accompanied Angela and Andrew to the awards. She said: “I’m really thrilled for
our three gardening volunteers, who are so enthusiastic about making the garden look fantastic. They really deserve the award – the garden looks great. “We have also worked with lots of local businesses – including some big companies – who have provided volunteers for gardening projects as part of their team-building days. We are very grateful for all their help.” The hospice first entered the awards in 2011, when the gardens were placed in category three.
FIVE OUT OF FIVE: The hospice garden in Newcastle earned top marks
WARM WELCOME Marie Curie Cancer Care and UK boiler company Baxi have launched a one-year corporate partnership. Baxi aims to raise £50,000 for Marie Curie through various fundraising activities in its first ever charity partnership. Marie Curie was selected as Baxi’s charity partner through an employee vote. Head of Corporate Fundraising Arun Sharma said: “We are delighted that Baxi has chosen to support Marie Curie throughout 2014. As their first charity partner, we will work closely with them to maximise the fundraising and strategic value of our partnership.”
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People February 2014
Strategy ChiEf Executive’s view
REACHING OUT: Marie Curie plans to help many more people
I would like to start my column by thanking many of you for contributing to the work we have been doing to develop our new strategy over the last year. During this whole process, people have been incredibly open and honest with ideas and feedback, which is fantastic. On these pages, you will see more details of what the strategy is likely to look like. As I write this column, we have not got our governing body’s (Council’s) sign-off, but I am keeping my fingers crossed. We neither plan to, nor could, have everything ready for April 2014 when our new financial year starts. I am very much thinking of 2014/2015 as a transition year because we need to work up some of the ideas you and others have given us.
OUR VALUES Most recently, we have been asking you what you think our values should be as an organisation. Some of you may think that is obvious because we are a charity doing important and good work. Surely we don’t need to set them out? But being explicit will help us judge how we behave and treat the people we care for, their families and friends, our volunteers and supporters and the many other people we come in to contact with. Equally important is how we behave and treat each other and work as an organisation. I joined one of the workshops this week and it was really interesting to hear the feedback. The values work forms part of the work we are doing on brand.
SETTING STANDARDS But we are not just concentrating our efforts on the new strategy. We need to continue to make sure what we do on a day-to-day basis, whether it is about how we care for people, how we encourage people to support our work or how we run the organisation, is as good as it can possibly be. I am particularly excited to hear about the workshops that Dee Sissons has been leading. Over 400 staff, including nursing staff from both Marie Curie Nursing Services and our hospices, allied health professionals, social workers and chaplains, have attended and talked about the burning ambition they bring each day to provide the best care possible. They also want to continually look at how they can do even better. Staff will be launching a clinical campaign to set standards of care, look at the information they need to provide the care and how we share the best of the excellent practice that occurs across the organisation. FOR MORE INFORMATION Get in touch with Jane at jane.collins@mariecurie.org.uk
Trustees pledge major investment to support service expansion Council backs five-year funding to help more people and to make clear our support for people with all terminal illnesses Marie Curie Trustees have given a multimillion-pound vote of confidence to the charity’s new strategic plan. At their January Council meeting, they approved, in principle, significant new investment over five years to expand current services and develop new ones. They welcomed the charity’s ambitions – based on a response to extensive research with terminally ill people and their families – to: • help more people • help people earlier in their illness • make clear our support for people with all terminal illnesses • continue putting the individual, their family and carers at the centre of everything we do
Moving to a five-year plan enables the charity to take a longer term view of the investment required. IMELDA REDMOND
NEW VISION AND VALUES
FIVE-YEAR PLAN
The trustees also reviewed a first draft of the charity’s proposed new vision, mission and values as part of an ongoing consultation with staff, volunteers, patients and families. Funding pledged to the new strategy during its first year will support: • the expansion of care through nursing, hospices and the Marie Curie Helper Service • the launch of a new information and advice service • repositioning the Marie Curie brand • the transformation of our communications and IT through the Better Connected programme
The new strategic plan will run from 2014-19; the first time the charity has moved away from planning in shorter three-year cycles. Director of Policy and Public Affairs, Imelda Redmond, who is heading up development of the strategic plan, told Marie Curie People: “There are some clear benefits in moving to a five-year plan. It enables the charity to take a longer term view of the investment required amid an ever-changing healthcare and financial environment.” At their next meeting in March, trustees will sign off final costings for the 2014-19 plan. In addition, they will review in detail the business cases for transforming the Marie Curie brand and launching a new information, advice and guidance service.
In addition, trustees will look at plans for additional investment in a number of other areas, including research and training. Trustees endorsed the creation of a People Programme, which will work to involve staff and volunteers in embedding the charity’s values throughout the organisation. It will also play a vital role in listening to, and supporting, staff and volunteers through a period of change.
FOR MORE INFORMATIOn Watch out for details of our 2014 strategic plan roadshows in the next edition of Marie Curie People.
February 2014 People
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Strategy
Staff and volunteer feedback has helped to shape our values
What are values? Our values describe the way we do what we do and against which we as a charity
IMAGE: www.shutterstock.com/ mama_mia
Marie Curie is going through a huge change. We’re building on what we do well and aiming to reach many more people than we do now, writes Melanie Bond, Internal Communications Manager. Marie Curie’s trustees have committed the charity to increasing the number of people with terminal illness it helps by growing current services and developing new ones. While our hospice and nursing care will remain a great part of the work we do, we can’t provide nurses for all 400,000 people who need our help. So we’re developing new ways to provide information and support for all people with a terminal illness earlier in the journey of their illness and to support their families and carers too – we’re working on a broader reach. It’s an ambitious and exciting plan. What we also need to do as part of this is to make sure our values reflect the new Marie Curie and what we will be doing. They need to show we are aspirational, ambitious and far-seeing.
want to be judged. Our staff and volunteers know our charity inside out, so who better to help develop our values?
What will happen when WE have the final set of values? When the values have been signed off, we will start embedding them in the things we do and say. We’ll keep you
up to date on progress and will share the final values with you as soon as they’ve been approved. FOR MORE INFORMATIOn and advice Contact Melanie Bond, Internal Communications manager, on 020 7091 6614 or internal.communications@mariecurie.org.uk
Our values work so far Step 1 • In October 2013 we ran a survey, online and in Marie Curie People (November issue). We had 681 responses. • We used that feedback to draft a set of values. • We set up workshops to test those values so we could make sure they will work for Marie Curie. There were 26 workshops at our hospices and in Marie Curie offices in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. They were open to all Marie Curie staff and volunteers, and more than 200 people took part.
Step 2 We ran workshops in December 2013. By 18 December, we had received very consistent feedback, helping us to review and adjust the values.
Step 3 Workshops started again in early January, running until 16 January. We used this opportunity to test the revised draft values. We learned that, while people were positive overall about these values, we still had a little more work to do.
Step 4 Now we’re finalising those values, based on the last round of feedback. The finalised version will go to the trustees in March for approval, and will then be shared across the organisation.
Online banking among Better Connected achievements Better Connected, Marie Curie’s programme to transform the way the charity engages with its audiences, has delivered a number of key projects. These include a campaign dashboard, online banking facility and a mobile donations web page. Using the new dashboard, the charity’s Marketing and Fundraising teams can track the performance of their campaigns over a range of measures and timescales. The dashboard is already in use for the Great Daffodil Appeal 2014 and will be refined as it is used. Working with our IT, Fundraising and Digital teams, Better Connected has also developed an online banking facility, which will allow supporters to pay in collected donations online, rather than having to pay by cheque or by going into a bank. This facility will now be tested on specific campaigns, and feedback gathered, before it is launched fully. And smartphone users can now donate to Marie Curie in a simple, straightforward way thanks to a new mobile donations web page at m.mariecurie.org.uk/donate. Chief Executive Dr Jane Collins said: “I’m delighted that some of the projects under our Better Connected programme have already been successfully delivered. These are just the first steps to improve how Marie Curie engages with its audiences and we have much more to look forward to.” The Better Connected team will now start work earlier than planned on further projects, including the roll-out of Adobe’s Neolane software for campaigns such as the Great Daffodil Appeal.
These are just the first steps to improve how Marie Curie engages with its audiences and we have much more to look forward to. DR JANE COLLINS The software will allow the charity to automate and join up the many ways it communicates with its audiences from emails, the internet, and text messages to phone calls. Better Connected is a cross-departmental initiative that aims to transform how Marie Curie connects with everyone involved in the charity, from staff, volunteers and supporters to patients and families. The programme is part of Marie Curie’s strategic plan from 2014 to 2019, which commits the charity to increasing the number of people it reaches from 39,000 to 400,000. SMART SOLUTION: Supporters can now donate through their phones
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People February 2014
Fundraising Tea Party’s 2014 calendar set to inspire more people Marie Curie’s Blooming Great Tea Party will be held this year between 20 and 29 June. The charity has reduced the time over which it asks people to hold their parties to help focus the event and allow people to feel part of a wider campaign with everyone hosting at the same time. Following an evaluation of last year’s event, the charity hopes the move will help
TIME FOR TEA: Marie Curie hopes more people will host tea parties
increase the number of people who bank their money and the overall amount raised. All of Marie Curie’s fundraising groups have been asked to help launch the event locally by holding their group’s tea party earlier – in April or May. “This should help to raise awareness and inspire others to sign up and hold parties in June,” said Jenny Edwards, Senior Marketing Executive, Fundraising. She added: “If you’re thinking of holding a tea party this year, then why not do the same – hold it earlier to help encourage your friends, family or local community to register to hold one at the end of June? We raised over £700,000 last year, please help us smash that target this year.”
London Eye shines yellow for celebration event The EDF Energy London Eye shone yellow to celebrate the energy company’s fundraising achievements and thank the charity’s dedicated nurses and volunteers. Marie Curie was chosen as EDF Energy’s charity partner in an employee vote by more than 7,000 members of staff. In just six months, employees have raised more than £100,000, which will be match-funded by the company, bringing the total to £200,000. Vincent de Rivaz, EDF Energy’s Chief Executive, said: “We are thrilled to have reached such a large fundraising milestone in just six months. The charity is Amount raised by EDF dear to many of our Energy employees, with employees’ hearts and match-funding, in just raised £600,000, with we look forward to six months developing our relationship the company matchfurther, not only providing funding its employees’ monetary support, but also contribution by up to working with the charity to provide £100,000 each year. a valuable difference to patients and Dozens of Marie Curie Nurses, families at a time when they most employees and volunteers attended a need it.” champagne reception at the London By the end of the three-year Eye event in November, followed by a partnership, EDF Energy aims to have trip on the famous ferris wheel.
THE WHEEL THING: Marie Curie staff and volunteers enjoy a trip on the London Eye, courtesy of EDF
£200,000
Thousands raised through raffle A raffle organised by EDF Energy raised more than £6,000 for Marie Curie. The company’s employees across the UK bought tickets, with a draw for cash prizes and other items held at the end of 2013.
new routes on global adventures
A calendar of overseas activities 2015 Nepal Himalayas Trek Kilimanjaro Trek Brazil Trek Malin to Mizen Cycle Great Wall of China Trek Niagara Falls to New York City Cycle
Dates 20-30 January 13-22 February 17-25 April 23-30 May 9-17 October 10-19 September
Deposit £250 £350 £299 £200 £299 £299
Fundraising target £3,000 £4,250 £3,900 £1,500 £3,250 £3,750
Marie Curie’s new range of overseas challenges for 2015 and 2016 includes an epic American cycle and treks through Brazil and Vietnam. The new Niagara Falls to New York Cycle is exclusive to Marie Curie – no other charity offers this challenge. Fundraising Product Manager Dan Nelson said: “You start at Niagara Falls and cycle through Pennsylvania. It’s a spectacular landscape, with rivers, valleys and Native American historical sites.” The Brazil Trek will take supporters through the spectacular Atlantic rainforests, mountains and waterfalls of the Bocaina national park, as well as on a visit to Rio de Janeiro. Also new is Marie Curie’s firstever trek in Vietnam. Trekkers will stay in traditional houses on stilts and explore the forests and paddy fields in Northern Vietnam, around Hanoi. The three new adventures join a raft of overseas expeditions that have proved to be fundraising successes in previous years. Popular destinations returning for 2015-16 include the Canadian Rockies, the Himalayas and the Great Wall of China.
2016 Vietnam Trek Canadian Rockies Trek Kilimanjaro Trek
10-19 March 24 June-2 July 15-24 September
£250 £250 £250
£3,250 £4,050 £4,600
FOR MORE INFORMATION You can now sign up for our overseas challenges online. To join the adventure, visit mariecurie.org.uk/overseas or call 0840 524184.
INSPIRING VIEWS: You could take in the sights of Rio on next year’s Brazil trek
February 2014 People
9
Fundraising
Schools and groups plan Mini Pots of Care fundraisers Marie Curie is hoping to build on its success recruiting schools and groups to its Mini Pots of Care campaign by raising £450,000 in linked fundraising activity. The charity exceeded its recruitment target by signing up more than 3,700 schools and groups to the 2013/4 campaign, which began in the autumn. Children aged three to 11 received free daffodil kits so they could plant the bulbs and care for them throughout the winter. When their daffodils bloom over the next month or two, they will decorate their pot wrappers and hold fundraising activities at their schools or groups, from selling the daffodils to cake bakes and fun runs. The charity is hoping that the fundraising activities around Mini Pots of Care, which usually take place in February, will raise £450,000 – an increase of £150,000 on the previous year. Fundraising Product Manager Simon Pitts said: “As this fundraising activity starts with the planting in autumn and finishes in spring with the blooming of the daffodils, the challenge is making sure that the teachers, group leaders and children are also raising money for us around the activity. “To help us increase the amount of money each child raises for us, we are
SPRING INTO ACTION: After caring for bulbs throughout winter, children will spend the next few months decorating pot wrappers and taking part in a range of fundraising activities
piloting 20,000 coin boxes that children can colour in and fill with donations from their families, relatives and neighbours.” Teachers and group leaders can choose from a range of resources from Marie Curie’s website, including lesson plans and fundraising ideas. Simon said: “Over the years, we have
received positive feedback from teachers who let us know how much they and their children have enjoyed this activity. “We believe there is great potential to grow the activity and engage more closely with the schools, children and their parents. We are looking at improving our communication and
Style blogger takes on budget fashion challenge
FOR MORE INFORMATION Recruitment for the 2014/15 campaign will kick off in May 2014. Email simon.pitts@mariecurie.org.uk or find out more at mariecurie.org.uk/minipotsofcare
HomeServe heroes boost shop
Stylist and fashion blogger Louise Vance is proving, with Marie Curie’s help, that a stylish wardrobe doesn’t have to break the bank. Louise was invited by Marie Curie to put together a selection of party outfits on a £30 budget – and she visited the Marie Curie Shop on the Belmont Road in Belfast to complete the challenge. “We ladies love our glamorous party looks,” she said, “and shopping with Marie Curie is the best way of finding that perfect party outfit. “Their shops are a treasure trove of vintage finds, from stylish dresses to glitzy accessories, and they are one of the best ways of creating a really unique, individual look at a bargain price.” FOR MORE INFORMATION To find your local Marie Curie shop, visit mariecurie.org.uk/shops. For style tips and to read about some top fashion events, check out Louise’s blog at the-real-elle-woods.blogspot.co.uk
support to schools taking part, as well as exploring the possibility of additional Mini Pots products.”
Staff from HomeServe, the insurance and home repair company, raised more than £11,500 for Marie Curie by taking on a Charity Shop Challenge. The entrepreneurial event saw 65 participants volunteering for a day to help raise the takings and profiles of 10 Marie Curie shops in the Midlands, and two in the Preston region. Teams of volunteers competed against their colleagues to secure the greatest increase in sales. The winning team, the Red Hot Techie Peppers, (from HomeServe’s IT department) increased Increase in sales sales at the Hanley shop at the winning team’s TOP PERFORMERS: in Stoke-on-Trent by 334 Marie Curie Assistant Shop location, the Hanley per cent compared to Manager Emma Roby (in shop, during the onethe same day during the yellow) with HomeServe Chief Information Officer day challenge previous week. Lesley Ashman (front) and the On average, the Charity winning team Shop Challenge increased sales by an average of 165 per cent on the Joanne Hanks, Shops Area previous week. A total of 24 new Manager, said: “The enthusiasm, volunteers were recruited and 389 creativity and passion the HomeServe bags of donated stock, worth £7,780, teams brought to this challenge was were collected. really inspiring.”
334%
HIGH FASHION, LOW COST: Louise shows off one of her bargain outfits at Marie Curie’s Belmont Road, Belfast shop
10 People February 2014
Feature
the
grand
Départy 2014
Come to the G The Grand Départ, the start of the Tour de France, comes to the UK this summer and
The world’s top cyclists will speed into Leeds on 5 July for the Grand Départ, the opening of the Tour de France. Competitors will spend two days racing through Yorkshire, then cycle from Cambridge to London, before crossing the channel for the rest of the legendary race. As charity partner, Marie Curie is throwing its very own Grand Départy to celebrate – and all volunteers and staff are invited to join in the excitement. Cheryl Barrett, Project Manager, said: “In January, we launched our Grand Départy campaign with a fundraising pack full of ideas for how people can raise money for Marie Curie. There are activities to suit everyone, based around three themes: cycling, yellow and France – and we’d like everyone to get involved. You can order or download the pack, which contains materials to support your event, including bunting, banners, quizzes and certificates.”
The world’s top cyclists will speed into Leeds on 5 July for the Grand Départ, the opening of the Tour de France. Marie Curie is throwing its very own Grand Départy to celebrate. FUNDRAISING
mariecurie.org.uk/tourdefrance
Start Leeds Sheffield
Cambridge
Finish London
FOR MORE INFORMATION Call 0845 052 4184 or email tourdefrance@mariecurie.org.uk to request a copy of the fundraising pack or download it from mariecurie.org.uk/tourdefrance For more information on the Dare 2b Festival of Cycling visit festivalofcycling.org
! HE JOIN TD DépARTy GRAN • ffieLd k • sHe • Yor
York
PACK
ANCE DE FR TOUR départ 2014 grand
rogate • Har Leeds
Harrogate
London ge • Cambrid
OFFICIAL CHARITY GRAND DÉPART 2014
1
Get on your bike Unlike the Tour de France competitors, you don’t have to be super fit to take part in the Grand Départy. You can join in the spirit of Le Tour, at your own pace, by organising a sponsored cycling event such as a cycle to work or school day, or a sponsored static bike ride at your local gym. “Cycling is the perfect way to get fit and have fun while raising money for Marie Curie,” said Cheryl. “All you need to do is pick a date and encourage your friends and family to take part.” If you want to get close to the action, go along to the Dare 2b Yorkshire Festival of Cycling at Harewood House, from 4-6 July. You can follow in the tracks of Le Tour competitors, who pass through the grounds on 5 July. There will be plenty of opportunities to support Marie Curie over the weekend.
GO CYCLE 548km
Total distance covered by the 2014 Grand Départ
3 billion
Viewers watch the Tour de France on television
February 2014 People 11
Feature
Grand Départy Marie Curie is its official charity partner. What better excuse for a party?
GO W O L L E Y
Dress in yellow If all this cycling seems a bit too energetic, you can get involved without breaking into a sweat. The Tour de France leader wears a famous yellow jersey, so why not organise a Wear Something Yellow Day at school or work? Ask people for a donation to wear yellow clothing, shoes and accessories. Alternatively, you could hold a yellow food sale, art auction or get sponsored to jump into a bath full of custard.
GO f
r e nc h
Vive la France! Embracing French culture is another great way to celebrate the Grand Départy. Budding chefs could hold a Frenchthemed dinner party, complete with French food, wine and music. If you’re less than confident in your culinary skills, you could hold a film night, French-themed quiz or a sports day, featuring traditional games like boules. “Whatever activity you choose, please request your Grand Départy pack today,” said Cheryl. “It’s a fantastic opportunity to have fun while helping Marie Curie care for terminally ill people and their families.”
12 People February 2014
Policy
How would Marie Curie be affected by an independent Scotland? On 18 September 2014, Scotland votes on independence. Head of Policy and Public Affairs (Scotland) Richard Meade looks at how a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ vote might affect Marie Curie. At the end of November, the SNP Scottish government published its much-anticipated White Paper on Scottish Independence. The 670-page document was part blueprint for a new state and part manifesto for what an SNP Government would do if a referendum was won and if the SNP was successful at the first Scottish general election in 2016. While taking into account everything that has been published, it is still difficult to say with certainty exactly how all this will affect Marie Curie. We can, however, pick through what has been said by both sides in the debate and begin to build a picture of what kind of Scotland the charity might be operating in after September 2014.
cross-border working The White Paper states clearly that “just as charities operate crossborder between the UK and Ireland”, they would be able to do so in an independent Scotland. Charity law is already devolved to Scotland and charities are regulated in Scotland by the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR). The shared work between OSCR and the Charity Commission in England and Wales would continue after independence. NO CHANGE: The charity’s hospices, like this one in Glasgow, are unlikely to be affected by independence
Scotland. However, one big question still remains – what money will an independent Scotland have at its disposal to pay for future public services? Those who support independence argue that not only would an independent Scotland be able to sustain the current level of public services, but that the nation could expect greater revenue as a successful independent state, and so increase investment in public services. This case was made by the Fiscal Commission Working Group.
Fiscal gap?
Some fundraising issues may change with amendments in the tax regime set out in the White Paper. The Scottish government would gain control over income tax, corporation tax exemptions and reliefs for charities, along with legislation covering tax relief, including Gift Aid. The Scottish government has said that it will “ensure that charities continue to benefit from tax relief on charitable donations”. With regards to how and where charities spend their funding, the White Paper makes it very clear that it will be down to individual charities. When
With regards to how and where charities spend their funding, the White Paper makes it very clear that it will be down to individual charities. making this point, the White Paper does not stipulate a difference between statutory and voluntary funding. However, restrictions on how statutory funding is spent may be set out in contracts and service level agreements.
Continuation of healthcare Power and responsibility over Scotland’s health and social care services have been devolved to the Scottish Parliament since 1999. A ‘yes’ vote would mean little change in this area. The SNP promises it “will not change the way you receive your healthcare”, which would suggest that Marie Curie nursing services, hospices and development services would continue as they currently do. The SNP has also indicated that, if it remains in power post-independence, then it would keep the NHS in public hands, as well as retaining healthcare policies that are currently in place, such as free personal care for those over 65 and free prescriptions. The current cross-border arrangements for services between the health services in England and Scotland would also remain. So it may appear that an independent Scotland would not represent too much of a change for Marie Curie in
Those against independence are adamant that a separate Scottish state would have to deal with a substantial black hole in public finances resulting in wide-ranging cuts to public services or an increase in taxation to meet the shortfall. The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) said that an independent Scotland would face a “fiscal gap” of 1.9 per cent of national income, compared to 0.8 per cent for the UK. If there is a ‘no’ vote, is Scotland likely to change? The answer is yes. Scotland is already due to receive new powers on income taxation as a result of the 2012 Scotland Act (due to come into force in 2016). The legislation will allow MSPs to set income tax rates in Scotland and enable Holyrood to borrow more money. And all of the parties that support the ‘no’ campaign in the independence referendum have also said that Scotland should receive further powers beyond what its parliament will get in 2016 – but none has set out what they should be. However, these changes seem unlikely to affect health and social care, and it would be difficult to forecast significant change for the charity in the event of a ‘no’ vote. The final question for now is how likely we are to see independence in Scotland following the vote? Mainstream polling suggests that the ‘no’ camp is firmly in the lead. But with over seven months left until polling day, nothing is certain.
Referendum facts • The referendum is set to take place on Thursday 18 September 2014. • The question will be “Should Scotland be an independent country? Yes / No”. • The voting age for the referendum will be 16 years and over. • Voters must be resident in Scotland.
February 2014 People 13
My story INSPIRED TO FUNDRAISE: Amy Manders with her nan, Bernadette
NEWS IN BRIEF new hospice manager A former clinical services manager at NHS 24 in Scotland is Marie Curie’s new Hospice Manager for Edinburgh. Christine Kirkcaldy joined Marie Curie after 38 years working in the NHS as a nurse and manager. Christine said: “I’m very much enjoying my new role – it’s a real privilege to be involved with Marie Curie at this stage in my career. It’s an exciting time to be joining the charity as we look forward to new developments.”
MY STORY
“Collecting for Marie Curie helped me with my loss” Amy Manders, a member of the Cardiff Central Fundraising Group, explains why she loves collecting during the Great Daffodil Appeal I’ve been fundraising ever since my Nan died in the Marie Curie Hospice, Cardiff and the Vale in May 2010. The nurses at the hospice were wonderful and I thought it was a nice way of giving back and saying thank you. My nan, Bernadette, had lung and bone cancer, which spread everywhere. She was in the hospice for 10 days at the end of her life, during which time the staff cared for her and supported me and my family. In the months before that, one of the nurses, Liz, visited her at home. She became like a family friend and was someone my mum could confide in. The hospice is in Penarth, which was one of my nan’s favourite places. I used to go with Nan and all the family and have chips on the pier. The hospice has a view of the sea and, on the day she died, Nan was in a room overlooking the pier.
VALUABLE SUPPORT The nurses helped my family to care for her by taking control at the end, so we could just be there for her without worrying about pain relief. It took all the pressure off and meant we could just be there to support her while she was sleeping. There is no way we could have done it without them. The atmosphere in the hospice was very welcoming. The nurses were really friendly and comforting. Sometimes there were 10 or 11 of us in a private room – but we were never made to feel as if we had to leave. When I got involved in collecting, I met other people who had been through
the same thing. The support of the other fundraisers has been a massive help to me. Because we’ve all lost people, Marie Curie means a lot to us. I like collecting, especially when I see people go out of their way to put money in the tin. It’s really fun – and you get chatting to people about their own experiences. I also like finding out how much money we’ve raised and counting it all at the end.
FAMILY AFFAIR One of the first times I was collecting for the Great Daffodil Appeal, I was in St David’s Hall, the theatre in Cardiff. It was the end of a show and I was standing at the bottom of the stairs. People were actually queuing up to put money in. No one ignored us. It wasn’t just the odd person – it felt like hundreds. I was so overwhelmed that I cried. My mum was collecting with me that time and she felt the same. As well as my mum, my sister Jodie, my brother Jack, and my uncle and my cousin have also done collections. Jodie is also in the Cardiff Central Fundraising Group.
Between us, we’ve arranged two disco nights in aid of Marie Curie, which have both raised around £500. The first was in Christmas 2010. We invited friends and family – the idea was that it would be in celebration of my nan’s life. It was a Motown night and my partner, who is a DJ, did the music for us.
research survey More than 300 people have responded to the Marie Curie survey asking patients, carers and healthcare professionals to highlight areas they would like to be addressed by research. The survey, which has been developed in collaboration with the James Lind Alliance, is open until 30 April. Visit www.palliativecarepsp.org.uk or email peolcpsp@mariecurie.org.uk. oddie returns Springwatch presenter and ornithologist Bill Oddie made a special visit to the gardens at the Marie Curie Hospice for the West Midlands. Bill was returning one year after he first visited the site to see how the gardens have matured and to offer his expert advice on attracting wildlife. Bill said: “It’s great to see that the garden and pond area have come so far and are really thriving, and it’s brilliant to see it being enjoyed by the patients, their families, staff and volunteers, as well as the local wildlife.”
ONGOING VOLUNTEERING
MUM’s THE WORD: Amy’s family, including her mum Dawn (above), have joined in with fundraising
I was collecting in the theatre in Cardiff. People were queuing up to put money in. No one ignored us. I was so overwhelmed, I cried.
I’ve volunteered twice for the Walk Ten events at Margam Country Park and helped out at November’s Cardiff Brain Game. This was a glamorous event, organised by the hospice fundraising staff. This year, I’m hosting a collection on 15 February in a Tesco store in Cardiff. We always wear the hats and try and make something out of daffodils. I generally just smile. If you stand in a good place, people will come and chat to you. I now have a six-month-old baby, Ella-Mae. At the moment I am on maternity leave, so I have taken a bit of a step back, but I help out when I can. For me, fundraising is a social thing, but I think everyone has got a spare hour, no matter how busy they are. Just an hour or two can mean so much. For people who have lost someone, I would say collecting for Marie Curie can help. It helped me – not to get over the death of my nan, but with the loss. It gives you that feel-good factor and fills your heart. When I’m standing there, with my Marie Curie badge on, I feel really proud to be part of it.”
WATCHING THE WILDLIFE: TV presenter Bill Oddie (left) and Facilities Manager David Rice
marmalade contest Do you have a hidden talent for marmalade making? If so, now is the time to dig out your preserving pans and enter the World’s Original Marmalade Awards and Festival. All amateur entrants to the competition from Scotland can put their entry fee towards Marie Curie Scotland. Find out more by logging on to marmaladeawards.com. The closing date for entries is 13 February. EDINBURGH TOUR You can now visit the Marie Curie Hospice, Edinburgh, online. To tour the building, log on to mariecurie.org.uk/edinburghtour
14 People February 2014
Our team
Performance under pressure Changes in the NHS mean that Marie Curie services are facing more competitive and financial pressure than ever before – but the charity is getting ready for the challenge, says Head of Commissioning Paul Harniess Every time a Marie Curie Nurse knocks on a patient’s door, or a new patient is admitted to a Marie Curie Hospice, it happens because the NHS has signed a contract with the charity. Marie Curie will have agreed to provide a certain amount of care to patients in a specific geographical area, for a sum of money that part-covers the cost (the rest is made up by fundraising). “All of our services – with the exception of Marie Curie Helper – are commissioned by the NHS,” Head of Commissioning Paul Harniess said. “The NHS commissioners’ aim is to meet the needs of the local population with the highest possible standards of care in a way that represents value for money. Our aim is to get Marie Curie services commissioned – that means selling our services by convincing commissioners that we meet both these objectives.” The charity’s relationships with commissioners are managed regionally, by regional nurse managers, hospice managers and Predicted funding gap business development by 2020 if the NHS managers. Paul helps system continues them to sell services.
make to respond to the future. We need to be open-minded about how services will be delivered and not be constrained by how we’ve done it in the past.” Another major theme affecting commissioning decisions is the drive to integrate services – especially across health and social care. Financial constraints, and the need to improve standards, are breaking down traditional barriers and resulting in far closer working and sharing of knowledge. “Commissioners are also commissioning on a larger scale – bundling together contracts for a whole area, such as end of life care or diabetes, under a single lead provider. That is increasing the need for providers to work together,” Paul said.
THE FOUR NATIONS
£20£30 billion
billion is forecast by 2020. The burden for making sure that horrendous funding in its current form gap is minimised rests INCREASED PRESSURE principally with commissioners. Marie Curie has worked with the It’s a tough job and, as it gets tougher, NHS on a commissioning basis since the demand on us also increases.” early 1970s. However, in recent years, the In response to this pressure, Marie pressure on commissioners, and on Marie Curie has become much more focused Curie, has increased beyond recognition. on how it can help commissioners meet “When you look at health and social the challenges that they face. care, demographic trends – such as an “That means understanding what ageing population and more people dying their needs are,” Paul said. “We recently with multiple long-term conditions – are surveyed commissioners’ experiences of making the current health and social care working with us, looking at our strengths system unsustainable,” Paul said. and weaknesses. Our divisional managers “If the NHS system continues in its are experts in their local markets. We current form, a funding gap of £20-£30
Marketing our services
A major communications campaign is supporting Marie Curie’s drive to get its services commissioned. The charity has been running: • a series of specialist We know about round-table events end of life for commissioners, in care partnership with the Royal College of GPs • stands, presentations and talks at conferences and professional events • a partnership with the Health Service Journal, which includes a series of sponsored articles about commissioning, a survey of commissioners, a commissioning channel on HSJ online and a special commissioning supplement.
An independent Nuffield Trust study of 30,000 Marie Curie Nursing Service patients found that only 12% had an emergency hospital admission while under our care compared with 35% of patients in an individually matched control group. Three quarters of patients we cared for died at home compared with 35% in the control group. We know the majority of people want to die at home, not in a hospital. We know good community care has the potential to release hospital resources. We know what it takes to make this happen.
You know you can trust Marie Curie Cancer Care to deliver outstanding levels of care and the practical and emotional support that people at the end of life need.
Find out more: mariecurie.org.uk/commissioning servicedevelopment@mariecurie.org.uk
Marie Curie A4 press ad final artwork.indd 1
All of the Marie Curie events, promotions and sales presentations are backed up with marketing materials, including printed brochures, web pages and PowerPoint presentations. Marketing Campaigns Manager Sarah Bracken explained: “Our aim is to raise commissioners’ awareness of how Marie Curie can help them. “They have usually heard of us, but they’re not always aware of the full range of our work for terminally ill patients, or that we care for with people who have conditions other than cancer.”
are doing everything we can to learn what commissioners want and deliver it. “A lot of commissioners absolutely recognise the quality and value for money that we provide, but they are clear that we cannot rest on our laurels. We don’t have the right to provide care to patients. To be part of the health and social care system in the future, everybody will have to be very good at demonstrating that they deserve a place. We can’t rely on contracts rolling over from one year to the next. “We know that commissioners might use competition, among other methods, to drive quality up and costs down.”
FLEXIBLE SERVICES: Marie Curie aims to ensure patients can be supported at home as much as possible
EVOLVING FLEXIBILITY In recent years, the charity has increased the flexibility of its nursing services, moving from pre-booked nine-hour shifts to providing multi-visit, rapid response and other service variations (see box). “These manifestations all represent an evolution of the nursing service, deploying our skills and resources in different ways. They are about getting patients out of hospital and keeping them out; ensuring that patients can stay at home and their use of hospital is only as absolutely necessary; and making sure that, if they do go into hospital, they can be supported at home again as soon as possible. “Now, we are looking at further changes the Marie Curie Nursing Service needs to
09/01/2014 14:58
To be part of the health and social care system in the future, everybody will have to be very good at demonstrating that they deserve a place. PAUL HARNIESS
Devolved power – and the need to work in four NHS health systems – is another factor that Marie Curie needs to take into account when seeking to get services commissioned. “All four nations are driving their own policy agenda. That’s the nature of devolved power. In England, there have been more structural changes in the past 18 months than in the devolved nations. On integration, the devolved nations are ahead of England, where health and social care still don’t function in a particularly joined-up way. Competition is a bigger factor in England, while the devolved nations tend to have a more collaborative approach, which structural integration has probably helped. “All areas of health and social care are trying to address the long-term challenge of meeting the population’s needs with the money that’s available. And there’s a strong consensus that more care can be safely and cost-effectively provided in patients’ homes without needing to rely on expensive hospital care.” FOR MORE INFORMATION View the report here: mariecurie.org.uk/commissioning
February 2014 People 15
Research Study highlights hospices’ reliance on volunteers
Caption: Lorem soluptat assundus ut explandanda verspera
New research has revealed the true extent to which UK hospices rely on unpaid volunteers to meet the growing demand for palliative care. The new study, funded by the Dimbleby Marie Curie Cancer Care Research Fund grant and published in the Journal of Palliative Medicine, is the first of its kind in the UK to provide a comprehensive and in-depth picture of volunteer activity in specialist adult palliative care.
IMMENSE CONTRIBUTION
Better end of life care for minority ethnic groups is an urgent priority Marie Curie has published a report calling on the government and healthcare commissioners to urgently improve care for terminally ill people from diverse communities. The report, Next steps: Improving end of life care for Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) people in the UK, was launched at a parliamentary reception in Westminster on 15 January. Norman Lamb, Minister of State for Care and Support, spoke at the event and welcomed the report’s key findings. He said: “The NHS has to do better in reaching out and engaging with people from across our wonderfully diverse country. This research gives us a better chance of getting it right.
DIVERSE ETHNIC PROFILE: End of life care in the UK must respect different cultural and faith traditions
CHANGING NEEDS
We want NHS England to give clear guidance to service commissioners and others about how to take the needs of different groups of people into account. DR IAN GITTENS
“We’ve got to shift from a paternalistic system to one that is acutely personal, respecting cultural and faith traditions. Everyone must be treated as an individual.” The profile of the UK is set to change dramatically. The UK’s minority ethnic population is set to increase from 13 per cent in 2006 to 27 per cent in 2031. The report follows earlier research by Marie Curie that highlights these demographic changes and the fact that people from BAME communities are not receiving the care they want and need.
Dr Ian Gittens, Senior Project Manager for Diversity, said: “Over the next few years, more and more people requiring care at the end of their lives will be from BAME backgrounds and communities. Our latest report offers several recommendations for healthcare commissioners and providers.” These recommendations include: considering the needs of BAME communities when designing new services; ensuring staff have the skills
and training to work with people from all backgrounds and providing information specifically tailored to BAME groups. Ian added: “We want NHS England to take a lead on this issue, by giving clear guidance to service commissioners and others about how to take the needs of different groups of people into account. They must work more closely with local communities to understand their needs.” Chi Onwurah, MP for Newcastle upon Tyne Central and sponsoring MP for the paper, said: “Marie Curie has shone a spotlight on an important issue that needs to be addressed by policy makers. “Some clear barriers have been identified that are preventing people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities from accessing the end of life care and support they need. We must now act to ensure that these barriers are removed and that the needs of people from all communities are met.” FOR MORE INFORMATION View the report here: mariecurie.org.uk/diversityreport
Bridget Candy, researcher and principal investigator of the project at the Marie Curie Palliative Care Research Unit at UCL, said: “Our comprehensive survey shows that volunteers are involved intrinsically and extensively in specialist adult palliative services. We should acknowledge their immense contribution and ensure that their support needs are well understood.” Researchers found that there are typically one-and-a-half volunteers for every paid member of staff delivering essential care and services to patients with advanced progressive diseases and their families.
REDUCING COSTS There are more than 100,000 hospice volunteers in the UK and it is calculated that their contribution reduces hospice costs by an estimated 23 per cent. The study was carried out by researchers at the Marie Curie Palliative Care Research Unit, University College London Medical School; Institute for Volunteering Research; and International Observatory on End of Life Care, Lancaster University. The research team conducted a comprehensive survey of volunteer activity in the UK – gathering data from two-thirds (194) of the UK’s adult hospices and specialist palliative care services that involve volunteers. Of these, 79 per cent were voluntary (charitable) sector services and 21 per cent were statutory.
Volunteer study: in numbers
290
Charity receives record number of research applications Marie Curie has received more than 40 outline applications for research grants totalling £1 million – a record for the charity. The charity had invited proposals for research in three key areas: pain control at home, symptom control at the end of life and addressing the needs of potentially excluded groups at the end of life.
The funding will be awarded as part of the annual Marie Curie Cancer Care Research Programme, which has been running since 2010. This year, the charity simplified the application process by introducing an outline application stage, which closed in mid-January. Cancer Research UK is administering the subsequent steps in the application
process, and researchers whose applications are taken to the next stage will be invited to submit a full application using Cancer Research UK’s electronic grant submission system, eGMS. FOR MORE INFORMATION Visit mariecurie.org.uk/researchprogramme
Number of organisations contacted by researchers
1.5
Number of volunteers for every paid staff member
68%
In 68% of services, volunteers were involved in counselling
16 People February 2014
News
new end of life initiatives start in Argyll and bute New services and initiatives for the Argyll and Bute Delivering Choice Programme have been officially launched. The new moves include the introduction of a flexible nursing model for the region, improvements to the provision of information and training for carers, and a best-practice framework for supporting care home staff (see box). Marie Curie is working closely with partners from Argyll and Bute to examine and address changes in end of
life care delivery. The launch marked the implementation phase of the programme. Project Manager Jennifer Layden said: “Using this approach, we have been able to focus on developing local and sustainable solutions that address the issues and barriers across the system. We know, for example, that carers can feel isolated or lack support or knowledge of palliative care issues. As a result, we are developing a carer’s training module specifically covering end of life care issues, which will be delivered with local carer organisations.”
Programme to support patients with heart failure is extended huge difference to the lives of those patients and their families who have benefited from these services.” Iain said the 18-month programme extension would mean more patients would be helped, while the programme partners would be able to do a more detailed evaluation of the project’s impact. As part of the extension, the programme will continue to care for heart failure patients, as well as mentoring and training support staff involved in caring for them. The programme will also continue to fund the lead nurse clinical role and a project manager based at the Marie Curie Hospice, Glasgow. FOR MORE INFORMATION Visit mariecurie.org.uk/caringtogether
FOR MORE INFORMATION Visit mariecurie.org.uk/argyllandbute or contact Jennifer Layden at jennifer.layden@mariecurie.org.uk
LAUNCH: Marie Curie staff helped launch the latest phase of the Argyll and Bute Delivering Choice Programme in November
• a flexible model of the Marie Curie Nursing Service, enabling senior nurses to work with local community care teams to provide assessments and care coordination • improvements to the provision of carer information and training • community events and roadshows to raise awareness of services and address the culture around death, dying and bereavement • a best practice framework including training and education for care home staff delivering palliative care • guidance on transport provision for patients living in remote rural areas
David Hedgecock 1936-2013 A long-serving Marie Curie collector from Chelmsford has died. David Hedgecock, 77, of Broomfield had been collecting for Marie Curie since 1997. Former bus conductor Mr Hedgecock began fundraising for charities in 1978. Over the next three decades, he walked more than 2,000 sponsored miles and raised money for more than 50 good causes, including Marie Curie, the Royal British Legion, the Salvation Army, the J’s Hospice and Farleigh Hospice. Community Fundraiser Anne Hillion said: “David supported us for the whole of the five years I have been with Marie Curie. He was an excellent collector – he did Great Daffodil Appeal and Christmas collections, and collected for us at other times, too. “He was amazingly focused and competitive – if you were collecting with him, he would always raise twice as much as you. He was very popular
locally because he did so much for so many charities. We will all miss him.” Mr Hedgecock won an Essex Chronicle Pride of Essex award in 2011 and a Life Achievement Award in 2003.
Photo by kind permission of the Essex Chronicle
The Caring Together programme for patients with advanced heart failure in Glasgow is being extended until June 2015. The programme, which is jointly funded by Marie Curie Cancer Care and British Heart Foundation Scotland, has helped more than 230 patients and their families, ensuring they have access to appropriate care and support services. Caring Together Programme Manager Iain Armstrong said: “Caring Together is a fantastic example of what can be done to improve end of life care for those patients with more complex care requirements. Working in partnership with British Heart Foundation Scotland and the NHS, this programme has already made a
The launch event in Inveraray, Scotland, was attended by more than 80 representatives from the different care sectors. Guest speakers included Chief Executive of Scottish Care Ranald Mair; Michael Russell MSP; and Dr Elizabeth Ireland, GP and Chair of NHS National Services Scotland Health Board.
The Argyll and Bute initiatives include:
February 2014 People 17
Food for thought How do I… apply for celebrity support? Ariane Buteux, Celebrity & VIP Manager, provides insight into Marie Curie’s celebrity programme.
Ingredients
Method:
8 chicken thighs, deboned 200g breadcrumbs, stale 1 free range egg 1 cup plain flour 100g basmati rice 75g frozen peas
Whizz the bread in a food processor until you get breadcrumbs. Alternatively, you can grate the bread or use ready-made breadcrumbs. 2 Cut the chicken into thick strips. 3 Put the flour, egg and breadcrumbs in separate bowls. Dust the chicken in flour, then egg, then breadcrumbs. Pop them in the fridge for 20 minutes. 4 For the sauce, cook the onion, garlic and a teaspoon of ginger in a splash of oil until softened. Add the flour and curry powder, and stir over the heat for two to three minutes. Crumble in a stock cube and pour in 350ml of boiling water. Stir in the sugar and simmer for 15 minutes until thickened. Blend
Cooking oil 1 onion, chopped 2 garlic cloves 1 thumb-sized piece of ginger 1 tablespoon mild curry powder 1 tablespoon plain flour 1 chicken stock cube 1 teaspoon brown sugar
ANN’S INSIGHT
We must encourage all supporters
Kerry Marland, Fundraising Volunteer Programme Manager, gives us the perfect Saturday-night-in recipe. This recipe can be adapted for vegetarians, says Kerry. Simply switch the chicken for vegetables. Sliced aubergine and par-boiled sweet potato work a treat.
For the curry sauce:
Do you have an idea for the Food for thought page – a recipe or advice column? Perhaps you would like to feature in our Desert island essentials section? Write to us at people@mariecurie.org.uk
Recipe of the month... Chicken Katsu curry
1
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It would have to be cheese and biscuits.
FOOD OR DRINK
A piano – I used to play a lot when I was younger. I’m completely out of practice now and haven’t played it much for years. I would play on the beach to keep myself occupied and console myself about being deserted.
FOR MORE INFORMATION Contact Ariane on 020 7091 4179.
A LUXURY ITEM
Below are the answers to the Sudoku puzzles on page 19.
Fill out the Celebrity Application Form from the Celebrity section of the intranet. This will ask you for the date
Amelie is one of my favourite films and when I see it now it reminds me of watching it with friends at university. I love Paris, and wandering round Montmartre, and Amelie always has me rooting for her. It has a lovely happy ending!
STEP TWO – Complete the forms
Your form is submitted to the Celebrity Forum. You will be contacted to let you know whether this has been approved, and if so to discuss the next steps.
A FILM
My long-time favourite book is To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, but I guess that might be quite heavy going and not very uplifting when you’re deserted on an island. So I’d take something like American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld, which is a brilliant book and really made me think when I read it the first time round. It’s based on the life of First Lady Laura Bush, and full of surprises. Plus it’s really long, so it would be perfect to while away the long hours waiting to be rescued.
STEP THREE – Wait for a response
A BOOK
Sudoku solutions
and time of the event, the amount you are intending to raise and the names of individuals you think would be suitable for this activity. This must be in line with the charity’s celebrity policy, which can also be found in this section of the intranet.
Natasha Sweet: possibly waiting on an order of cheese and biscuits
I thought about this for a while because it would depend on what mood I’m in. I’ve decided on Air’s Moon Safari because I always listen to this album when all is well and I can sit down and relax. It’s very chilled. I can imagine sitting by the beach listening to it and trying not to worry too much about being marooned.
If you feel your initiative has a need for celebrity support, discuss this with your line manager. If this is signed off, the next step is to speak to the PR team and/or your PR representative.
A SONG OR ALBUM
STEP ONE – Talk to internal teams
Image you’re marooned on a desert island. What would you want with you? Is there a book or film that you couldn’t live without? Natasha Sweet, Marie Curie’s Major Gifts Manager, piloting Pay for a Day in the West Midlands and Hampstead hospices, takes a seat under our palm tree.
Celebrities lend their support to various Marie Curie initiatives to help raise awareness of our work. In general, this is focused on events in keeping with their profile or connection to the charity. New requests are most likely to be approved where a PR or policy campaign or regional event raising over £40,000 is concerned. While a relevant celebrity can add value to a campaign or event, a celebrity should never replace a nursing representative or a case study.
Desert island essentials
Senior Insight Manager Ann Davison reflects on the charity’s supporters
the sauce to smooth using a stick blender or food processor. 5 Heat the oven to 180° (adjust for fan). Heat two tablespoons of oil in a pan. Take the chicken out of the fridge and fry it until golden on both sides. Transfer to a baking tray and bake for 20 minutes. 6 Boil the rice in salted water for no more than 15 minutes, adding the peas for the last two minutes. Drain well. Toss with a couple of drops of sesame oil and soy if you like. FOR MORE INFORMATION Get more tips at Kerry’s blog at thriftyeatsblog.wordpress.com TAKING or follow her on THETwitter: BISCUIT: @thriftyeats. Niall Durdin
We have been asking people who support Marie Curie through In Aid Of events and Blooming Great Tea Parties how it was for them. Both groups were left feeling very positive about the charity, describing Marie Curie as caring and supportive. They see a cheerful side to our work. Knowing that there is a service of tangible support and respite when needed gives hope and reassurance, they say. In Aid Of supporters are very much motivated by the cause – thanks either to personal or indirect experience. Generally wanting to help people isn’t such a strong motive for them as for other supporter groups. But for a lot of people running tea parties, wanting to help people and make a difference is the main reason – that and enjoying baking. It’s often a chance to show friends round the
house or garden as well as to share tea and cakes. Many people running tea parties are fiercely loyal to Marie Curie, having experienced our service. In Aid Of supporters like a sense of independence. For those running events in memoriam, there is a sense of being able to say thank you. The fundraising is important to In Aid Of supporters – the better it goes, the better they feel about Marie Curie. They get a sense of achievement and, as with supporters generally, it’s important that we thank them. All in all, these supporters valued the support and materials Marie Curie provides. We learned that we could vary the support we offer, for example to cater for large events. In Aid Of supporters like a pick-and-mix approach because they organise things their way. And Blooming Great Tea Parties come in all shapes and sizes. We should encourage that.”
18 People February 2014
Inbox
Inbox
TOP TWEETS
Here is a selection of the top tweets from the past few weeks. Follow us on @mariecurieuk or tweet using #mariecurieuk Andy Cameron @andycameron84
@mariecurieuk thank you for helping me look after my father in his last days. Liz Smith @LizSimit
Thank you for all the support during my Dad’s battle over the last few months. His passing was so peaceful. Forever indebted to @mariecurieuk Justin Birch @JJGBltd
I didn’t really think Angels existed, until I met the Marie Curie nurses and they proved me wrong! @mariecurieuk
Judith E Davey @JudithEDavey
Bless @mariecurieuk nurses. Thanks to Becky who was with me last night when my mum passed. Eternally grateful.
Inbox is Marie Curie People’s forum for your letters and emails. If you’ve a brilliant idea or a question about our work – or if something is bugging you – email mariecuriepeople@mariecurie.org.uk
To be frank…
Fundraising Groups
I was delighted to see the Frank Sidebottom statue on the cover of December’s Marie Curie People. The statue was the brainchild of local councillor Neil Taylor, who launched an appeal to raise every penny to both create and install the statue in Timperley. Neil was hopeful that the appeal would go above and beyond the amount needed and, due to his knowledge of the Altrincham Fundraising Group for Marie Curie, decided that he would like to give any additional funds to the charity. The group, who first met Neil while running a stall at a local festival, supported the unveiling by liaising with Neil in advance, attending on the day in full Marie Curie branding, and collecting, counting and banking the £1,215 funds. This goes to show the importance of the work that our groups do in the local community – not only through raising money, but also in networking and creating relationships that simply wouldn’t otherwise exist. Dr Carole Mindham Chair of Altrincham Fundraising Group
The success of our Fundraising Groups has been fantastic, with groups now dotted around the length and breadth of the country. We have 430 groups who donate their time and skills day in day out to raise vital funds for the charity, making new friends and supporting their local community in the process. From village fetes and fashion shows, to Blooming Great Tea Parties and daffodil box collections, the support of our fundraising groups has been incredible, resulting in £1,871,965 this financial year to date. Our volunteer group members are fantastic ambassadors for the charity and we cannot thank them enough for their continued support. February and March are a great time of year for our groups, who will be raising lots of money by supporting the Great Daffodil Appeal. Maybe you could join them on one of their collections? Find out more about our groups, including how to join one at mariecurie.org.uk/groups. Kerry Marland National Volunteer Programme Manager
Editor’s note: Last month, Marie Curie People reported that a permanent, life-size statue of cult musical comedy star Frank Sidebottom had been unveiled in the Cheshire village of Timperley in October in memory of Frank’s creator, Chris Sievey – the culmination of years of dedicated fundraising by Chris’s friends and family.
Fundraising Group Chair Carole Mindham thanks the crowd for their support
CARING SERVICES
Amazing time with @HordleyJeff at Bradford’s Marie Curie Hospice. What an amazing bunch of people they have working there. @mariecurieuk Lesley Whelan @infolesley
Called into Solihull today & saw my pieces installed for the first time @mariecurieuk #arts #healthcare
Followers on Facebook are speaking out about the valuable support from Marie Curie. Follow us at facebook.com/MarieCurieUK Marissa McIntosh Happy New Year, thank you for your nurses priceless help when my Mum became ill so suddenly, it was very much appreciated by a family who were so lost & bewildered at the time & your support will never be forgotten xxx Catherine Jayaram Thank you for the Angel that held my stepfather’s hand as he passed away in September. He was terrified of having to go into hospital or the hospice and thanks to Cheryl and her colleagues he didn’t, God Bless you all Xxxx Anna McGoldrick We could never thank the Marie Curie Nurses enough for their dedication during my Dad’s illness. Thanks once again.
Wales and southern England experienced extreme weather in December and January. Andrew Wilson-Mouasher, Caring Services Divisional General Manager for Wales and South West England, tells us how Marie Curie staff continued to deliver our services despite the challenging conditions Over the past months, we have all been experiencing extreme weather. Although the coastal areas of Wales have been battered by storms and high tides, this, fortunately, has not impacted on patient care in Wales. Staff in the south-west of England have endured extreme conditions admirably, and, as Marie Curie People went to press towards the end of January, many were still coping with the impact. The regional team worked well with local providers to prioritise patients where necessary, and even Dorset Police assisted us by agreeing to transport nurses in four-wheel vehicles in areas where the roads were closed. All staff have been vigilant and on high alert and they have been asked to report their concerns regarding the weather. Staff have prepared themselves well for travelling to and from their patients, ensuring they have sensible, warm clothing and footwear, that they are familiar with their journeys and they are aware of the safest route to their patients’ homes. As we would expect, staff have been uncomplaining and demonstrated their commitment to patients and families by
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IMAGE: www.shutterstock.com/ northallertonman
FACEBOOK FRIENDS
With good preparation, we’ll defy the weather to reach patients IMAGE: PETE JONES
Zoe Henry @ZoeHenry03
continuing to deliver care throughout all services in Wales and the south-west of England. It is important that all Marie Curie employees and volunteers stay safe
Staff have been uncomplaining [about the weather] and demonstrated their commitment to patients and families by continuing to deliver care.
during adverse weather. If you are in doubt about travel or worried about flooding when in a patient’s home, contact your line manager or volunteer manager. It is also important that everyone stays safe when they are at home or with friends. Remember that flood and extreme weather warnings can be found on metoffice.gov.uk. If you are in a flooding area, stay connected. A useful way to keep up to date with information on floods in your area is through Facebook at facebook.com/floodgroupuk. This group collates information from the Environment Agency, Scottish Environment Protection Agency, Natural Resources Wales and other organisations. Finally as we head further into winter remember to stay prepared. Practical information on what to do before, during and after adverse weather can be found on environment-agency.gov.uk as well as readyscotland.org. FOR MORE INFORMATION During a flood, you can get in contact with your local responsible agency on Floodline 0845 988 1188. In an emergency, phone 999.
Do you have a comment about the charity or one of our articles, or a suggestion for a story? Write to us at mariecuriepeople@mariecurie.org.uk. Comments and letters may be edited.
February 2014 People 19
Noticeboard Pictured (l-r) are Amy McNaughton-Brown, Lynn Wood, Alysia Cameron-Price and Rachel Nash. Not pictured, but sharing the award is the team’s Tracey Finnegan
60 SECONDS WITH...
Top team wins award The fundraising team for the Marie Curie Hospice, West Midlands was the winner of the charity’s Regional Fundraising Team of the Quarter award. The award was for performing outstandingly during the second quarter of the financial year, hitting all financial targets, with excellent product work and superb organisation of the Birmingham Brain Game.
Baby Thomas Philip Szelke Moulton weighed in at 6lb 12oz on 3 January 2014 at the Whittington Hospital, London. Thomas is the son of Marie Curie People editor Nick Moulton and his wife, Julia Szelke, who are delighted by their new arrival.
Pictured is Reuben Hamish Dougan-Hyde – new son of Marie Curie Research Officer Katie Dougan-Hyde. Reuben was born to Katie and her husband, Stefan, on Friday 20 September.
Lucy Stockall, Community Fundraiser Bristol & Wiltshire, gave birth to a beautiful baby girl Daisy Ava Stockall on 6 November 2013, at St Michael’s Hospital, Bristol.
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Do you have a birth, wedding, civil partnership, retirement or long service award to celebrate? Send details and a photo to mariecuriepeople@mariecurie.org.uk
SUDOKU
Marie Curie People sudoku sponsored by: Create and solve your Sudoku puzzles for FREE.
To play: Complete the grid so that every row, column and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 to 9. There is no guessing or maths involved, just use logic to solve. Find the solutions on page 16.
Play Sudoku and win prizes at:
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5 2 8 7
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1 5
8 7 5
5 2 8 1 9 2 6 3 6 2 7 9 1 9 8
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2 7 6 8
4 2 3 1 2
4
6 7
5 9
6 8
5 7
3 8
8 4 1 8 9 3 1
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4 6 9
Professor Paddy Stone Professor Paddy Stone is the new Marie Curie Chair in Palliative and End of Life Care. He takes up the chair at University College London on 7 April – see page 2. Q: Which three qualities have helped you succeed in your career? I do not get easily stressed and I usually manage to maintain good humour even under pressure; medicine, both clinical and academic, relies on working together and I am good at building relationships; I hate being late and I always make a deadline. Q: What alternative career might you have followed? I wanted to be a maths teacher. The closest I have got is helping my children with their homework. Q: What do you do when you’re not at work? I like my leisure time. I try to play sport several times per week – either squash or running. I enjoy reading, going to the cinema, playing chess, playing golf – infrequently and very badly – and watching TV box sets with my family and three dogs. Q: What is your favourite book? I read in bed every night – usually books on science, philosophy or religion. Choosing a favourite is difficult. I never read a book twice. However, I really enjoyed The Elegant Universe by Brian Greene. Q: Favourite country? England. Q: Favourite piece of music? I will cheat by choosing a whole album, rather than a single piece of music: Blood on the Tracks by Bob Dylan Q: Favourite pudding? Bread and butter pudding – preferably with cream and ice-cream. Q: Favourite childhood TV programme? The Wombles. Q: Which five people, alive or dead, would you like to invite to dinner? Bob Dylan, CS Lewis, Leonard Cohen, Richard Feynman, Pope Francis. I think that the conversation would be fascinating, and after dinner I would hope to be entertained by Dylan and Cohen performing a duet, accompanied by Feynman on the bongos. Q: Tell us a fascinating fact about yourself? I can tap dance. Q: What makes you happy? Time spent with my family. Q: What makes you sad? I am rarely sad – but I do tend to cry very easily when watching films, TV and at the theatre. Q: If you were an animal, what would you be? A carthorse.
Ask your friends and family to sign up too.
Donate an hour to help someone in their final hours. Become a collector this March and help our nurses care for more terminally ill people in their own homes.
mariecurie.org.uk/daffodil 0845 601 3107 Charity reg no. 207994 (England & Wales), SC038731 (Scotland) S573