Hospice Care Week (9-15 October) is a chance to celebrate hospice care nationwide, and the incredible work that is being done to make sure everyone can benefit from the very best end of life care.
Run by Hospice UK, it’s a chance to spotlight the people who work and volunteer at hospices, show off the amazing work they do to support people at the end of life, and celebrate everyone that makes hospice care what it is.
“We work with people to create memories that will last a lifetime” – Rebekah, physiotherapist at Royal Trinity Hospice, London
Hospices support more than 300,000 people every year. But the need for hospice care is growing. There aren’t enough people to fill the roles we need to look after dying patients and their families. Without people to fill these empty roles, hospices will struggle to keep providing the gold-standard end-of-life care everyone deserves.
Hospice staff often find it to be the most rewarding and satisfying job of their career, and volunteers play a vital part in making hospices warm, welcoming places that support patients and their families through the toughest of times.
“I love my job because I feel I’m in such a privileged position to support a person and their family at the most intimate time of their lives” – Fliss, Singlepoint nurse at St Helena Hospice, Essex
This year Hospice UK have brought hospice staff and volunteers together for video celebrating everything that makes hospice care special.
Featuring hospice nurses, physiotherapists, volunteer gardeners, individual giving teams, social care assistants, and more, the video shows the range of work hospices do to care for people at the end of life and support their friends and families.
“We bring joy to those moments, to their loved ones” – Mohammed, Community Connecter at Keech Hospice Care, Bedfordshire
Throughout the week, Hospice UK will also be sharing blogs from hospice staff and volunteers, talking about the work they do, how they got into working at a hospice, and sharing myths they would like to bust about hospices.
“A lot of people think the hospice being a sad place but its’ not, it’s a friendly, helpful place” – Steve, volunteer Gardener at Barnsley Hospice, Yorkshire
Hospice UK is the national charity for hospice and end of life care, working to ensure everyone affected by death, dying and bereavement gets the care and support they need, when they need it.
Toby Porter, CEO of Hospice UK says:
“From clinical staff to bereavement counsellors, kitchen staff to volunteer gardeners, the staff and volunteers who support over 300,000 people every year are what makes hospice care so special. This Hospice Care Week, we want to celebrate them.
Hospices are exciting, rewarding places to work, and with the need for hospice care growing, we need more people to take up the opportunity to work in this incredible profession. If you’re interested, reach out to your local hospice.”
Hospice Care Week runs from 9-15 October. Head to www.hospiceuk.org during Hospice Care Week to read blogs from hospice staff and volunteers, and keep an eye on Hospice UK’s social channels to see the video.
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