On Thursday 20th November, Hospice UK Chair Paul Jennings visited Coventry Myton Hospice to see first-hand the wide range of specialist services The Myton Hospices provides for people living with a life-limiting illness and their loved ones.
Paul met with newly appointed Myton Chair of Trustees, Sarah Faulkner, CEO Ruth Freeman, Trustee Mike Iredale and members of Myton’s Senior Leadership Team to discuss the hospice’s vital work, recent innovations, and some of the challenges it is currently facing.
During the visit, Paul was given a tour of the hospice’s inpatient unit and outpatient areas, where he met expert staff delivering front line hospice care. He also met some of Myton’s volunteers, whose invaluable contribution across a wide range of roles helps make the organisation’s work possible.
Sarah Faulkner, Chair of Trustees at The Myton Hospices, said:
“It was a pleasure to welcome Paul to Myton during my first week as Chair of Trustees. The dedication of our staff and volunteers shines through in everything they do, and it was wonderful for Paul to experience that warmth and professionalism for himself. I look forward to working with the team, our supporters and our partners to ensure we can meet the growing needs of our communities in Coventry and Warwickshire”
Paul Jennings, Chair of Hospice UK, said:
“I was very impressed with what I saw at Myton. The positivity of the entire team of staff and volunteers struck me from the moment I arrived. It is visits like this, where I see patient care first-hand, that reinforce why our campaign for fairer hospice funding is so vital. Hospices need to be able to support more people who need them – not fewer. It was inspiring to see the great work at Myton despite the many challenges currently facing the sector.”
Ruth Freeman, CEO at The Myton Hospices, said:
“While hospices across the UK are facing the heart-breaking reality of cutting services and staff, we are working tirelessly to protect the care and support our patients and families rely on. It was uplifting that Paul was so positive about what he saw and heard. The team have been working incredibly hard to create the Myton he was so impressed with. We’re looking forward to a welcoming Paul to our Warwick site in the new year.”
Despite growing demand for its services, Myton’s statutory funding has fallen to just 17%, meaning the charity must raise over £1 million every month to continue providing its care free of charge for patients and their loved ones.
To learn more about the services Myton offers and how you can support your local hospice, please visit www.mytonhospice.org/Act
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At The Myton Hospices we believe that everyone matters for every single moment of their life; we focus on enhancing life when cure is no longer an option. We are not just about end of life care, we support patients and their loved ones right from the moment they are diagnosed.
We have three hospices in Coventry, Rugby and Warwick, and we care for people aged 18+ living with a wide range of life-limiting illnesses including Respiratory, Heart & Neurological conditions, Cancer and Organ failure.
At Myton, demand for our Inpatient Units has increased by 11% in the last 12 months, and too many people are dying on the waiting list for this vital service. As the only provider of Hospice Inpatient Beds in Coventry and Warwickshire, we are acutely aware of the need for more, but are limited in what we can provide due to funding constraints.
We are a charity, we are not the NHS, and we have to raise £12.7 million of the £15.3 million it costs this year to continue providing our services free of charge to patients and their loved ones. Just 17% of our funding comes from the NHS. We rely on donations and support from our local communities.
Find out more online at www.mytonhospice.org
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