Sue Ryder Wheatfields Hospice has welcomed a new Service Director to lead the team in giving more care to more people across Leeds.
Having worked in adult social care and healthcare for three decades, Paul Musgrave, who lives in the city of Leeds, brings a wealth of experience to the role.
Paul shares that one of the many reasons for joining Sue Ryder was to work for a charity close to his heart, “My mum was a volunteer for Sue Ryder for very many years and a family friend of ours received care from one of Sue Ryder’s neurological care centres until the end of her life. I suppose you could say the charity has been a central part of my family’s lives and we have always found the way Sue Ryder’s approach to care and support exceptional!
“To be part of that now is a real privilege.”
In his role as Service Director, Paul will be responsible for overseeing all the care and services delivered by Sue Ryder across Leeds, including from its inpatient unit, day therapy unit and family support at Sue Ryder Wheatfields Hospice and by its community teams who support people at home.
“I want to make sure our teams here are well-supported and well-managed so they can meet the needs of local communities in Leeds using their amazing expertise.
“We don’t work alone in delivering care to local people. We work in close collaboration with several partners here in Leeds to make sure people are supported at a time that can be so very challenging, so collaborative working will be a big part of my role too.”
Paul shares his motivation to make sure everyone receives the care and support they need at the most important time of their lives comes from personal experience.
“I lost my father and my stepfather when I was quite young. Their experience of end-of-life care was not what it should have been, and that really lit a fuse in me about making sure that the quality of a patient’s experience is always high and that their care and support is always tailored to them.
“I want to make sure the outcome is the best for the person in our care and that their families are well supported.”
A key priority for Paul over the coming year is to make sure services delivered from the Headingley-based hospice best meet the needs of the local community, and he says he is keen to hear from anyone with ideas and suggestions on how services should be run.
“It would be great to hear from anyone who has an interest in making sure we can secure the best outcomes for the people we care for and their families.
“If you or a loved one have had experience of palliative care – whether that is in a hospital, hospice, care home or at home – your experience and insight will be vital in helping us provide the best care we can for people as part of our Service User Participation Group. We’d love to hear from you.”
Paul shares there are other ways people can support the work of Sue Ryder in Leeds too.
“Currently, the government provides only one third (37%) of the funding that hospices need and Sue Ryder, like the rest of the sector, must rely on fundraising activities and voluntary donations to cover the remaining costs of providing palliative care services.
“We can only meet this target with the generous support of our local community, and we are so grateful to our supporters whose valued fundraising and donations help our services continue.”
Paul is keen to bust some of the many myths many people hold about hospices too!
“People hold this feeling that palliative care is difficult and distressing, and it can be those things at times, but most of the time it is about the art of living, not dying. Our role is to support families to make every moment matter even when life is short.
“My experience of palliative care is that it is inspiring, life-affirming and a privilege. I wish more people knew this, then they might be less afraid.”
“Everyone has a role to play to break down some of the barriers that we know exist in our society – just by talking about death and dying and supporting those who are grieving is an important step in the right direction! It is a courageous but necessary conversation that can help reduce fear and open up conversations about life.”
To find out more about joining Sue Ryder Wheatfields Service User Participation Group, email wheatfields@sueryder.org or call 0113 278 7249.
To find out more about the many ways you can support Sue Ryder to be there when it matters, email wheatfields.fundraising@sueryder.org.
For more information on services provided by Sue Ryder Wheatfields Hospice visit sueryder.org/wheatfields
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About Sue Ryder Wheatfields Hospice:
Sue Ryder Wheatfields Hospice is located in Headingley, Leeds and provides expert palliative care and support for people who are living with a life-limiting condition, as well as supporting their families. We also offer community services for people who prefer to receive palliative care at home.
About Sue Ryder
Sue Ryder supports people through the most difficult times of their lives. Whether that’s a terminal illness, the loss of a loved one or a neurological condition – we’re there when it matters.
For over 65 years our doctors, nurses and carers have given people the compassion and expert care they need to help them live the best life they possibly can.
In order to continue to provide and develop our services and expert care we rely predominantly on income from our charity shops, fundraising activities, and donations from members of the public.
For more information please visit www.sueryder.org
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