Speaking to ehospice as part of Hospice Care Week (8–14 October), Stuart said:
“The hospice movement has a wealth of experience and we need to learn the lessons and have a discussion and debate – it is an incredible resource that we’ve got.
“There are many things we are very proud of in this country; one of things we should be the most proud of is the hospice movement.”
Having worked for 12 years in the hospice movement, Stuart is uniquely placed to provide firsthand experience of hospice care when speaking in parliament.
“They say the only certainties in life are death and taxes – (in parliament) we spend a lot of time talking about taxes but not enough talking about death,” he said.
“It’s no exaggeration to say my whole outlook on life changed from working in a hospice. I always try to talk about my experiences (at the hospices), to raise the work that hospices do and highlight how important the need (for hospice care) is.”
Stuart worked in fundraising for Hope House Children’s Hospice, East Lancashire Hospice and Martin House Children’s Hospice. He was a councillor while working in the sector and now as an MP uses both his position and his experience to promote the work that hospices do.
He said that Hospice Care Week is crucial to getting people to recognise the importance of the care that hospices provide.
“As a member of parliament I have been staggered by how much information we are sent. It is important that the work that hospices do and the need for the care that they provide is known. Anything that makes that more widely recognised is crucial really.
“What’s been superb is more and more people are talking about care later on in life but also end of life care. It used to be taboo – now it is being talked about in parliament.
“Independent hospices are embedded in communities and therefore will always be something politicians are interested in. But the great thing that the hospice movement has is a powerful voice on a national stage.”
Keeping up with demand is the biggest challenge hospices face, according to Stuart, and the demand is also related to funding.
“It is difficult to keep up momentum to continue services. One of the hospices I worked at had to raise over £4 million a year just to keep running.”
Stuart said another challenge is that people in the UK want to die at home or in a hospice but most end up dying in hospital.
“The impact can be enormous – if the lasting memory isn’t a good one…”
From staff to fundraisers and volunteers to the impact on families, the evidence of the impact of hospice care is that families of people who have been cared for by a hospice are so willing to stay involved with fundraising and volunteering, Stuart said. “I try to relate that whenever I get the opportunity.”
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