"You matter because you are you. You matter to the last moment of your life, and we will do all we can, not only to help you die peacefully, but also to live until you die."
These are the words of Dame Cicely Saunders, the founder of the Modern Hospice Movement.
If there is anything that is gleamingly obvious to me since I started working in a hospice nearly 3 years ago, it is how accurate the above quote is.
In fact, it is not just a quote, it is a statement.
It is a testimony of our teams, who on a daily basis, ensure that each person who is dying feels like they matter, not because its their job to make them feel this way, but because they do matter, and we care!
Funding is critical for our services now and for the future, and I for one hope that hospices will be there to provide care and support to me and my family for generations to come.
Imagine a life, where each person dies in overcrowded, understaffed hospital wards or corridors. What a sad state that would be, and like stepping back in time. We can not let this happen.
To each of you who are a part of my network, I ask the following of you.
Please visit your local hospice.
As part of your next business networking event or team building day, plan a visit to your local hospice, and see for yourselves why funding is important.
This is not a plea to ask you to donate. I am asking you to visit your local hospice. Ask for a tour. Meet the nurses. Meet some patients. Meet some volunteers. Meet some service users.
See why funding is critical, and help us make some noise!
Then donate!
#hospicecare #CicelySaunders #Funding #Mountbatten #
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Today, the BBC is reporting five hospices are making both redundancies and hard decisions about how and to who they deliver care (read the story in comments).
Hospice UK, which represents the sector, is calling on the government to secure funding, as hospices face their worst-ever financial crisis.
Mountbatten Isle of Wight is a charity which gets two thirds of its funding from donations. A third comes via the NHS, and it hasn't risen in line with inflation, while our costs HAVE gone up .
This autumn, Mountbatten will be launching a consultation to find out which of our 24/7 hospice and community services matter to you.
The Department of Health and Social Care said it is aware of the issues but a fix will take time, says the BBC.
Mountbatten CEO, Nigel Hartley said: "There is no time to waste and the issue is now critical. A one-off payment is needed for all hospices, in order to stabilise much-needed services.
"We then need to focus on an equal and fair offer of funding for UK hospices, from the NHS.
"If we wait, we will see cuts to more valuable hospice services. People who are dying in our local communities and those who are bereaved are already suffering, through lack of access to hospice care"
Here are some ways to support the vital work of our expert team: https://ow.ly/QvVP50Tb4Zl
![Ways to donate and support us]()
Ways to donate and support us
mountbatten.org.uk
Chief Nursing Officer at Loyola MacNeal Hospital
3moHappy we could contribute to the amazing work you do everyday!