Luke’s News
Welcome
I’mpleased to introduce our Autumn Newsletter. I do hope you enjoy reading it and keeping up-to-date with what is happening at the Hospice.
Throughout the following pages you will hear from many patients and family members who have received care and support here – from the In Patient Unit where I work, to our Day Hospice and Family Support teams. We are so grateful to them for sharing their experiences which demonstrate the difference the Hospice makes each and every day.
Our care extends beyond the walls of the Hospice as we continue to reach out to support people in their own homes. We were pleased to launch a new service earlier this year, as
part of a joint partnership, to provide complementary therapies to patients at home when they are too unwell to attend Day Hospice. You can read more about this on page 5 and hear from a Winsford couple who are currently benefitting from this service.
We continue to make improvements to the Hospice building for the comfort of our patients, families and visitors. Our latest project has been the creation of a bright and welcoming counselling room for the children and young people we support. We're delighted with the results which you can see on page 15.
Of course this Newsletter is also full of ways you can support our Hospice in the coming months, from our Winter Winner Raffle to our Christmas events on pages 18 and 19. We are so grateful for your ongoing support.
On behalf of everyone at St Luke’s, and the patients and families we care for, thank you.
Dr Sally
Dr Sally Chambers Medical Lead
How to contact us
St Luke’s Hospice, Grosvenor House, Queensway, Winsford, Cheshire CW7 1BH
Dr Sally Chambers
Amazing response to 'cuddle bed' appeal
Thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone who gave so generously to our patient comfort Christmas Appeal.
We were truly overwhelmed by your response to our appeal for donations to buy new equipment for our In Patient Unit including five new rise and recline chairs, two specialist wheelchairs, a standing aid and a ‘cuddle bed’.
We’re delighted to announce that, thanks to you, we were able to buy ALL of the equipment on our wish list including not one, but TWO, cuddle beds!
The specialist beds take up the same space as normal medical beds but can be widened to make a double bed when required, allowing patients and their loved ones to lie together and cuddle each other, providing comfort when they need it most.
In Patient Unit Manager Leah McAteer said: “We are so grateful to everyone who donated directly to the appeal or were inspired to fundraise towards a cuddle bed, often in memory of a loved one.
Please know that your kindness will make such a difference to patients and families we care for in the years ahead. Thank you on behalf of everyone at the Hospice.”
To find out more about our services, including our In Patient Unit and Day Hospice, please visit www.slhospice.co.uk/services
Ward Sister Sarah Boulton with a new 'cuddle bed' and rise and recline chair
Staff from our In Patient Unit take delivery of the new 'cuddle beds'
The gift of care this autumn...
Our decorative sycamore leaves are a beautiful way to support our special care this autumn.
We’re inviting you to order a leaf in return for a donation towards our complementary therapies service.
A kind donation of £22.60 will allow us to fund an hour of complementary therapy for patients and carers being supported in our Day Hospice.
We've been delighted by the response to our leaves appeal so far with lovely feedback from supporters. The leaves contain meaningful quotes which we know have resonated with so many of you.
"It's lovely quality and really quite heavy, it looks absolutely beautiful in my garden. A lovely reminder that my mum is always with me."
Jane from Northwich
New service takes to the road
Claire Sanders is one of the Complementary Therapists providing treatments in patients' own homes.
Anew service is making a difference to patients and carers in their own homes.
Our complementary therapists are now able to offer treatments at home to patients who are too unwell to travel to the Hospice, thanks to the joint venture with the NHS Community Palliative Care Team (CCICP) and Mid Cheshire Hospitals Charity.
Complementary therapies such as Reiki, Reflexology and HEARTS, a form of therapeutic touch, can help to relieve pain, symptoms and anxiety. They’re also really beneficial for carers, helping them to relax and sustaining them in their caring role.
85-year-old Alan Hassall from Winsford was diagnosed with bowel cancer last year which has spread to his lungs and liver, and is being cared for at home by his wife Gwen. He has enjoyed Reflexology which he describes as “nice and soothing” and which “warmed my feet up for two or three days.”
Often, after Alan has enjoyed his complementary therapy, Gwen gets on the bed next to him and enjoys either Reflexology or Reiki. She said: “I can’t describe how lovely it is. It’s just so soothing and relaxing. It clears your mind of everything and makes all the worries go away for a little while.”
For more information about the Complementary Therapies at Home service visit www.slhospice.co.uk/services or call 01606 555681.
5
Finding light in grief
Grief is a journey that no one should have to walk alone. Our Robins Bereavement Support Group, held at the Hospice, offers a sanctuary for those struggling with grief, providing hope and healing through the care of dedicated volunteers and counsellors.
Our volunteers have undergone special bereavement training with the Hospice to ensure they are wellequipped to offer the best support possible. Each volunteer has their own story, many having overcome their own grief, which makes the support they provide even more meaningful.
Sarah, one of the volunteers, said: “I have worked in a variety of roles at St Luke’s. I’ve dealt with my own grief and I now feel ready to help others. I hope my training and experience helps them on their journey.” Sarah has enjoyed her volunteer work with St Luke's so much that she has recently qualified as a fully certified counsellor.
Irene, who has volunteered for over 20 years here, said: “I used to be a nurse for many years and I was encouraged to do the bereavement course at St Luke’s. It’s about connecting with people to make sure they don’t feel alone.” Irene often leads the activities at the sessions, spending time at home creating engaging projects for the group.
John decided to start volunteering after he benefitted from the group himself. He explained: "After losing my wife. I was fortunate enough to be offered the support of the bereavement group. It helped me in so many ways. Listening and allowing people to feel safe to open up with you is a privilege and I know it makes a difference.”
Pauline, who has volunteered at the Hospice for ten years, said: “My husband passed away at St Luke’s 20 years ago. After retiring I wanted to give something back and I felt this was the perfect way to do it. Grief is a process and we hope to help people find acceptance and joy again.”
Kath, who also volunteers in our Day Hospice, added: "Grief can feel isolating. I’ve found listening to others can create a powerful connection and a sense of hope and help them move on.”
We’re so grateful to all of our volunteers who give up their time to support our Robins Bereavement Support Group.
If you are interested to learn more about how to become a bereavement volunteer youself, we would love to hear from you.
For more information about our bereavement support services please visit www.slhospice.co.uk/services
Our Bereavement Support Group Volunteers: (left to right) Kath, Irene, David, Sarah and Pauline
The Robins Bereavement Support Group is an invaluable service for our local community, providing a safe place for individuals to express their emotions and feel less alone. One attendee said:
"I find the support group a safe space and extremely helpful as a place to bring my own thoughts and feelings."
Alexandra Collins, a Counsellor at St Luke's, said: “The group is an incredible form of counselling for those looking for longer term support and a more laid-back approach. It’s also a great way for people to socialise in a safe space. Currently we offer a morning session and an evening session once a month.”
If you, or someone you know, could benefit from this service, please reach out to us. You are able to self-refer to the group if you have experienced the death of a loved one through a life-limiting illness. Together, we can navigate the journey of grief and find a path towards healing.
For more information about becoming a bereavement support volunteer please email volunteer@slhospice.co.uk
The difference your support makes...
Last year, with the help of amazing supporters like you, our Winter Raffle raised an incredible £35,500 towards patient care!
That money means we can care for more local people through our Day Hospice – people like Christine O’Malley who we’ve supported during her recovery from breast cancer.
Christine said: “At the end of 2022 we were finally coming out of Covid, my husband and I were planning a holiday of a lifetime to celebrate our 60th birthdays and we were looking forward to retirement and spending time with our first grandchild. Then the rug was very much pulled from underneath us.
“I first came to the Hospice for chemotherapy as part of The Christie ‘Closer to Home’ Clinics, but I was then referred for complementary therapies including Reflexology, Reiki and Acupuncture.
“Everybody was just so kind, putting me at ease. The Hospice was smaller and more intimate than I had thought it would be. It’s like a hug as you walk through the doors, the care is all
around you and everyone is doing their best to get you through this and lift you up.”
“I think I would have been at breaking point if I hadn’t come to St Luke’s. Cancer doesn’t just affect you, it affects the whole family, and the nurses were there to help, counsel and guide. They were just wonderful.
"I’m starting to feel like I’ve got control back and I’m living life again. I’ll do all I can now to fundraise for St Luke’s because I want other people to benefit from the wonderful services and help that is available.”
To support local patients like Christine, enter our raffle today for just £1 a ticket at www.slhospice.co.uk/winterwinner
Christine O'Malley pictured with Complementary Therapist Yvonne Singh
Because of you...
Sean felt the sun on his face...
WhenSean Potter came to stay on our In Patient Unit he hadn’t left his home in 12 months.
Struggling with severe breathlessness as a result of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Sean had lost his confidence and didn’t feel he could venture outside.
Within 24 hours of staying with us he was out in our Hospice garden enjoying the summer sunshine
He said: “I arrived at the Hospice on Tuesday and by Wednesday I was out the door in the garden. Oh I loved it! And I’ve been out every day since. I hadn’t
been outdoors for 12 months, but here I’m spending five hours a day outside.
"Everyone’s got a smile on their face and just can’t do enough for you. It’s a fantastic place.”
During his stay Sean worked with our Occupational Therapist Anna to learn breathing techniques to help manage his breathlessness and anxiety, and to build his confidence. Anna also completed home visits with Sean, making sure he had the equipment he needed and was able to enjoy time in his garden at home. Sean and his family really benefitted from his stay at the Hospice.
A regular donation will help us care for more people like Sean. For more information visit www.slhospice.co.uk/regulargiving
Paul spent his final days surrounded by family...
In June, Paul Spencer spent his final days at our Hospice with his wife and sons by his side. The 53-year-old DJ and music producer from Crewe, known as Dario G, had received the shock diagnosis of stage 4 rectal cancer just a year earlier.
Paul had first stayed on our In Patient Unit last year to help with pain management and described St Luke’s as his “safe place”. His wife Kathryn explained: “To have that support at the very start was just brilliant. The way the Hospice was able to get his pain under control so that he could return home and be able to do his job and participate again in family life was just amazing.
“After coming home he always described St Luke’s as his safe place and said that when the time came it was where he wanted to be. It became my safe place too and I knew that Paul would be cared for and loved here.”
Paul returned to our In Patient Unit for end of life care in June and Kathryn said it was a huge relief for him to be back in familiar surroundings: “The nurses were waiting at the door for him and he was given the room he’d had before so he wasn’t disorientated. He was so relieved to be here, you could see his anxiety levels drop.
"I stayed in the room with Paul the whole time and the nurses looked after the whole family. We didn’t feel like eating but they were determined to keep us fed and watered. I would wander down to the nurses’ desk at 2am and, as long as they weren’t busy, they would just sit and chat to me, make me toast, and just be there really for hugs. I don’t know what we would have done without St Luke’s.”
In loving memory of Paul, his family and friends have to date raised more than £4,300 to help the Hospice care for other families like theirs.
Paul pictured with his wife Kathryn and sons Archie and Harry
Make a Will Month
We’re delighted to once again team up with local solicitors to offer you the chance to write your Will in return for a donation to the Hospice.
By writing your Will as part of our ‘Make a Will Month’ not only will you be ticking an important task off your to-do list, you’ll also be supporting the Hospice.
As part of the campaign, participating solicitors waive their entire fee which ensures that 100% of your donation will go towards patient care at St Luke’s. We recommend a donation of £150 for a single Will and £250 for a double Will.
To find out more about leaving a gift for St Luke's in your Will you can email claire.langston@slhospice.co.uk
Lisa from Northwich wrote her Will last year as part of the campaign and says it was very straightforward: “I simply contacted the solicitor and booked a convenient appointment and they then led me through the process. It was great to be able to make my Will face-to-face with a local solicitor who I trusted, while at the same time raising money for the Hospice. I’d been putting it off for ages and this gave me the push I needed with the added incentive of supporting St Luke’s.”
This year we’ve extended the campaign to the whole month of October, rather than just a week, to give you greater flexibility when booking an appointment.
To book your appointment please contact the participating solicitors directly, making sure you mention St Luke’s so that you’re allocated the correct slot.
For more information about 'Make a Will Month' or leaving a gift in your Will to St Luke's please visit www.slhospice.co.uk/will
A brighter space for brighter futures
We are thrilled to announce that our children's counselling room has moved to a new and improved location on the ground floor at the Hospice. Our goal was to create a space that is not only functional but also comforting, with toys and technology to engage children and help them to relax and open up. Thanks to a generous grant from the Co-Op Community Fund, specifically designated for family bereavement support, we were able to bring our vision to life.
•Laminated Flooring: For a cleaner, more modern look.
•New Furniture: Comfortable furniture that meets the needs of our young clients. Our ‘Angel Armchairs’ allow children to curl up and find a comfortable space.
•Soft Furnishings: Cushions and weighted blankets allow children to find comfort and security in the room.
•Updated Technology: A large TV and iPad to enhance services.
•Improved Storage: Ample storage solutions to keep the room tidy and organised.
•Creative Materials: Access to a variety of craft materials and toys including a sand pit, allowing for more relaxed, engaging and effective sessions.
To help us continue to improve our facilities please consider becoming a 'Friend of St Luke's' at www.slhospice.co.uk/regulardonation
15 year old Izzy has received counselling at St Luke's for 3 years
Remember
the life of a loved one this Christmas by dedicating a light on our tree at the Hospice in their memory.
We warmly invite you to join us on Sunday 1st December at 4.30pm for our very special Light up a Life service of remembrance.
We do hope you will share in this opportunity to come together, reflect and recall treasured memories as our Christmas tree is illuminated. It really is moving to know that every light that shines is in memory. Even though our loved ones are no longer with us, their memory still shines bright.
Your kind donation will help us to reach out to more local people who need us in the future, providing expert care and support to enable families to enjoy precious time together. Families like Andrew's, who you can read about on the next page.
Thanks to Birches Remembrance Park in Northwich who are once again sponsoring our Light up a Life appeal and service, thereby helping to ensure that as much money as possible can be raised for patient care.
To dedicate a light on our Christmas tree at the Hospice in memory of a loved one please visit www.slhospice.co.uk/lightupalife
Always in our heart...
This year the Suckling family from Moulton will attend our Light up a Life service in memory of their wonderful mum and wife Janette.
Children Natalie (26), Niamh (20), Joseph (15) and Emily (11) will join their dad Andrew in dedicating a light on our Christmas tree to their precious mum who sadly died at the Hospice last year at the age of 54.
Andrew says the care she, and the whole family, received and continue to receive through our Family Support Team has been amazing:
“At St Luke’s everybody has time for you, nothing is too much trouble. It was such a difference after being in hospital with her and it takes a while to realise that the nurses are there for the patients, but they’re there for you too. Everything seems to be thought of and all you have to do is ask.
“Nette was made so comfy and the whole family was looked after. You’re in the worst position of your life and you don’t even know it because you are just comforted and assured by what’s going on around you. You know that everything that can be done is being done and she’s being made as comfortable as possible.”
Andrew attended Light up a Life last year and is looking forward to the children taking part this year.
He explained: “It’s a really peaceful and lovely evening – from the nurses handing out candles, to the choir, the readings and carols. It feels like you’re part of the St Luke’s family. You’re sharing the service with the people who looked after your loved one and that’s very comforting. It’s very personal and you can feel at ease with your grief because you are all there for the same purpose.
“It’s a lovely way to remember Nette. She lived to be a mum. She had a huge heart and she was the best mum ever. We miss her every day.”
The Suckling family: L-R Niamh, Joseph, Emily, Andrew and Natalie
Making memories this Christmas
The most wonderful time of the year is fast approaching, and we are thrilled to invite you to our annual Christmas Tree Festival and Christmas Cinema from Friday 22nd November - Sunday 24th November at the beautiful St Mary's Church in Nantwich.
The magic of our Christmas Tree Festival...
Step into a winter wonderland at our Christmas Tree Festival, where beautifully decorated treeseach uniquely decorated by local businesses, organisations, and individuals - transform the incredible St Mary's Church into a glittering forest of Christmas magic.
One visitor from last year exclaimed: "We had an amazing time! The creativity and effort that went into each tree was truly impressive. It was a magical experience for our whole family."
There is no need to book, simply turn up. Find out more at www.slhospice.co.uk/treefestival
For more information about our Christmas Tree Festival you can visit www.slhospice.co.uk/treefestival
Christmas with Bublé...
Thursday 21st November, 8pm at St Mary's Church.
Join us on our very special launch night. Sit amongst our tree festival and watch the talented Mark Daniels performing ‘Ultimate Bublé at Christmas’. Pre-book your tickets at www.slhospice.co.uk/buble
Delight in movie classics at our Christmas Cinema!
Saturday 23rd November from 4.30pm at St Mary's Church.
After soaking up the beauty of the Christmas trees, cozy up with a glass of fizz and a bag of popcorn and enjoy timeless movie classics at our Christmas Cinema.
The first showing on Saturday 25th November is the family favourite Home Alone at 4.30pm, followed by a later showing of the beloved classic Miracle on 34th Street at 8pm.
Pre-booking is a must, to secure your seat. Visit www.slhospice.co.uk/cinema
For more information and to book your tickets you can visit www.slhospice.co.uk/events
