St Columbas Hospice Life magazine autumn 2016

LIGHT UP A LIFE

CELEBRATING 40 YEARS OF ST COLUMBA’S HOSPICE

REMEMBERING MUM

AUTUMN 2016

Keep in touch with us online for our latest news: www.stcolumbashospice.org.uk

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St Columba’s Hospice15 Boswall RoadEdinburghEH5 3RW

T: 0131 551 1381E: [email protected]

Scottish charity number: SC003634Registered in Scotland No. 48700

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03 WELCOME

04 NEWS

06 STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS HELP YOU TO FEEL BETTER

07 DAY HOSPICE DELIGHTS

08 LIGHT UP A LIFE

10 OUR FIVE YEAR STRATEGY – ONE YEAR IN

12 CREATING FRIENDSHIPS, PUSHING YOUR LIMITS – THE CELTIC CHALLENGE

13 CHRISTMAS FAIR 2016

14 CELEBRATE WITH US IN 2017

16 PHYSIOTHERAPY AND OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY AT THE HOSPICE

17 THE TAR-TIN ARMY

17 THE PUSH 2016

18 REMEMBERING MUM

19 GIANT PUB QUIZ

20 RESEARCH MATTERS

21 INTRODUCING THE PERSON-CENTRE CARE PROJECT

22 SUPER SHOPS!

23 EVENTS CALENDAR 2016/17

24 BURNS SUPPER 2017

If you would like to receive your edition of Life via email rather than post, please let us know by contacting [email protected]

IN THIS ISSUE

02 | WWW.STCOLUMBASHOSPICE.ORG.UK

WELCOME TO THE AUTUMN EDITION OF LIFE. WE HOPE THIS NEWSLETTER FINDS YOU WELL, AND THAT YOU ENJOYED THE FEW DAYS OF SUNSHINE WE HAD OVER THE SUMMER MONTHS!

WELCOME TO THE AUTUMN 2016 EDITION OF LIFE MAGAZINE

WWW.STCOLUMBASHOSPICE.ORG.UK | 03

Autumn and winter is a special time for the Hospice, as we launch our annual Light Up A Life appeal and enjoy the festive period. The festive season can be a time for reflection and remembrance and we hope you will share your memories with us as we light up the Tree of Remembrance as part of the appeal. The appeal raises money for the Hospice to be able to care for patients and families over the Christmas period and we hope you will support us to do this.

In this edition of Life you can read about the work we have been doing over the last year to bring the vision of our five year strategy, Care and Compassion Matters, to reality. We have been incredibly busy and we have achieved a lot in the last year, and we have done all this alongside providing our care and support to patients and families. It’s thanks to the hard work and dedication of all our staff and volunteers that the achievements over the last year have been possible. We could not have achieved these things without the support of our wider community, so we’d like to thank you too.

As we reflect on what we have achieved over the last year, it’s also time to look forward to 2017, which will be a very special year for St Columba’s Hospice. 2017 marks 40 years since we first opened our doors of our Trinity home to the public. The Hospice was opened on Tuesday 6 December 1977 with enough money in the bank to stay open for just three months. We have come such a long way since that day, and we are so grateful to every person who has been connected with the Hospice – you have made the Hospice the special place it is today. I hope you will join us in celebrating 40 years of St Columba’s Hospice, we have lots of exciting things planned and we can’t wait to share those with you!

Thank you for your continuing support,

Jackie Husband Chief Executive

A WALK TO REMEMBERThank you to everyone who participated in A Walk To Remember which took place in June. We had almost 200 participants join us to walk through the heart of Edinburgh along the picturesque Water of Leith.

Together you raised over £30,000, a massive achievement so thank you! These funds will help us continue to provide care and support for our

patients and their loved ones. The fun-filled day was a huge success, so a big thank you to all of our participants, volunteers and sponsors for all of their support.

Why not get the whole family involved with next year’s A Walk to Remember, which will take place on Saturday 17 June.


ERGOCOACHES HELP PATIENTS TO MOVEHelping patients to move around safely and comfortably is really important to the Hospice, and so several of our staff members have undertaken specialist Ergocoach training in which they learnt techniques and skills to help patients move. Diligent, a moving and handling training company, provided training to eight staff members, who can then share their knowledge with the rest of the team. This picture shows the staff members being trained in the correct use of hoists, which can be used to help patients in and out of bed.

NEWS FROM THE HOSPICE

A NEW LOOK FOR MORNINGSIDE ROAD It’s a busy time for our shops as we continue our work to refurbish each of our shops across Edinburgh.

Our shop on Morningside Road, which has been there for over 20 years, is the most recent shop to be given a fresh new look with a lick of paint both inside and out. The exterior of the shop is now an on-trend grey, with an eye-catching new sign and a dove above the door. The inside has been given a vibrant new look with our walls and display units now a gorgeous shade of green.

We re-opened our Morningside Road shop in July and you can find all the same treats and bargains inside. Don’t forget to donate your unwanted items too!

Earlier in the year we opened a new shop at 74 Dalry Road, which really needs your help to stay open. Can you spare a few hours a week to volunteer in the shop? Please get in touch with Sarah Munro on 0131 555 0625 if you can help.


TOP GRADES FOR THE HOSPICE FOLLOWING UNANNOUNCED INSPECTION Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) recently announced the results of an unannounced inspection of St Columba’s Hospice. HIS undertakes inspections of independent healthcare services across Scotland and is responsible for the regulation of independent healthcare services. HIS inspectors check independent healthcare services regularly to make sure that they are providing high quality care and complying with necessary standards and regulations.

The inspection, which took place in June, assessed the Hospice on five key areas – quality of information, quality of care and support, quality of environment, quality of staffing and quality of management and leadership. Across all key areas the Hospice was assessed as being very good or excellent – which are the two highest grades available.

Clinical Services Director Dot Partington said: “Since our last inspection we have developed many of our services, as well as the environment in which we care for patients and families. We are thrilled with the results of this inspection and believe that it is a reflection of the excellent care provided by our incredible team of staff and volunteers.”

PLAN FOR YOUR FUTURE TODAYPlanning for your future can seem like a daunting task but if you take a little time to do it now, it will save you and your family lots of time in the future. Setting up a Will and ensuring your legacy continues can mean that your wishes are kept. We have partnered with McClure Solicitors who are offering to review and write your Will for free. They will also help you arrange your Power of Attorney at half the cost of their normal fee. Find out more about the service on our website.

CHRISTMAS TREATS AND GIFTS NOW AVAILABLEOur annual Christmas cards and gifts are now available in all of our shops and to buy online, including a selection of gifts, diaries, calendars and Christmas cards. Pick up your catalogue at the Hospice, or buy online at www.stcolumbashospice.org.uk.


"Staff and volunteers help you to feel better"

These are the words of a patient on the Cedar Ward, about her experience of being at the Hospice. Wishing to remain anonymous, the patient created these thought bubbles as a way to share her story.

With massive thanks to an army of volunteers from those who give out water, to flower arranging, tending to the beautiful gardens, manning reception and helping with fundraising – it is because of their dedication that the Hospice can function in such an amazing way.

Linda the hairdresser is there to do your hair, making you feel better when you are unable to manage it on your own.

During days with a feeling of despair, staff comfort and help fill you with more positive thoughts.

Amazing doctors with huge expertise in palliative care – kind, supportive – giving you the security and confidence that your issues are taken in hand and can be massively improved.

Wonderful, cheerful nurses and support staff took control of the decisions about pain and stopped my fear of clock-watching, by deciding the pain relief I could take and when.

A team of therapists provide treatments such as reflexology which give you a lasting effect of relaxation.

Marvellous kitchen staff provide tasty food for those with or without an appetite and they can’t do enough to help you when food is unappealing to you.

Pauline, the counsellor, in a very warm and supportive way helps you to rationalise your thoughts and feelings.

Having eaten very little due to nausea and losing weight – symptoms which plagued me for several months – were addressed.”


As part of phase one of the development of spaces throughout the Hospice, we have given a makeover to our inpatient wards and main reception area. We have now started work on phase two of the interior design project, starting with Day Hospice. This area has been lovingly decorated, transforming the lounge and dining area, quiet room, complementary therapy room and treatment room. The Day Hospice reception areas have also been treated to vibrant wallpaper and comfortable seating. As part of phase two, we have also been working on our outpatients’ area and gatehouse and we look forward to including pictures of those in our next edition of Life.

DAY HOSPICE GETS A MAKEOVER


LIGHT UP A LIFE

Christmas seems to be a time of journeying – to the shops, into the kitchen to stir up the puddings, travelling to see loved ones far away. Wherever our own Christmas journeys take us, this is a special time of year, and here at the Hospice it's a time to journey to Charlotte Square to see our Tree of Remembrance. With all the tradition, fun and busyness of being together, it can be a time that we look forward to celebrating, but we know that for some of us it can be a difficult time too.

Being at home is such an important part of Christmas for many people, and as it approaches, people on our wards often tell us that is where they want to be. In order to help people be at home for Christmas, our social worker works with the council to ensure that people have access to the practical support they need to get home. The environment at home can be difficult for people to get around particularly at Christmas with all the extra decorations and traditions, so our occupational therapists will work with patients and their carers to ensure that home is a safe and comfortable place.

Lots of our patients find that it’s a difficult time because it puts a spotlight on things that they can’t do anymore. Our physiotherapy team will support patients to work on their goals step by step; together they break them down into manageable chunks so that they are achievable. So whether people want to be able to sit at the table for Christmas dinner with the family, to wrap presents or make the Christmas cake, we are able to help people to reach their goal and enjoy being part of the season.

Our counselling and chaplaincy teams work hard all year round, but we often find that in the run up to Christmas the call on the service increases. The teams offer encouragement and support and help people to find their courage. That might

be the courage to buy and wrap presents for the children as normal, it might be to put up a tree with the memories of all the times when it was done together, or the courage to make new memories for the next step of their journey. For the people who spend Christmas with us on the wards, the Christmas Day service provided by the chaplaincy team can feel extra special for the patients and their families, and for the staff team who are working too.

All this can be life changing, not only for our patients who can spend what may be their last Christmas surrounded by family and friends, but also for their carers’ and loved ones. Knowing that someone is safe either at home or with us at the Hospice, means that it is possible to nip out to do last minute shopping, or to make their Christmas hair cut appointment; small things that mean a lot.

For inpatients, getting out to the shops for presents can be a real worry. So this year, we’re delighted to be hosting a series of creative workshops in our newly furnished Art Room on Pentland Ward in the run up to Christmas. We have some amazingly talented volunteers, including Margaret who has offered to run a series of workshops which will enable people to make a different gift each week. These creations will be treasured by those receiving them and, we hope, become a special part of family stories for years to come.

Wherever your Christmas journey takes you this year, we hope it will be as special as you help ours to be.

By Becky Chaddock HEAD OF SUPPORTIVE CARE

Remember your loved ones by making your dedication and donation through our website: www.stcolumbashospice.org.uk/lightupalife


My Mum has been a supporter of the Hospice for many years as my Granny passed away in the Hospice on 22 December 1982. Mum has taken part in the raffles, donated to and bought from the shops, made regular donations and supported the Light Up A Life appeal.

On 12 January 2009, my Dad was admitted to the Hospice. He had been suffering with cancer for 18 months and unfortunately he deteriorated quite rapidly, so his GP recommended he be admitted to the Hospice. We were unsure if Dad was aware that he was in the Hospice, but the care he received from the staff was second to none and we have no doubt that his final days were comfortable and pain free. Sadly Dad passed away on 15 January 2009.

On the day my Dad passed away, it was also the official opening of the Columba Room and

we were invited to be part of it. My Mum didn’t want to leave my Dad’s bedside, so a nurse kindly offered to sit with him to allow us to attend the ceremony. It just showed to us how passionate the wonderful staff members are about their job and the care that they provide to their patients.

Each year we support the Light Up A Life appeal because every penny raised goes directly to the Hospice to allow them to continue providing the best care and support possible to patients and families, like the care that my Dad, my Granny and our family received.

Over the past few years we have also done various fundraising activities to raise funds for the Hospice. Our most recent activity was on 18 September 2015 when Megan and myself walked 11 miles from Prestonpans to the Hospice, raising a fantastic amount of money. Megan came up with the idea that she wanted to raise money for the people who had helped her Grunda and that we should walk from the place he was born to the place where he passed away. The walk itself was a great challenge, especially for Megan who was only 11 at the time, and we were both sure that her Grunda would have been very proud.

The Light Up A Life appeal means a lot to our family as it is our way of remembering loved ones we have lost over the years, especially my Dad – it means our loved ones are always part of our Christmas celebrations.

Over the years, we have seen the Tree of Remembrance many times on our festive trips to Edinburgh and this year will be our first year attending the Light Up A Life event.

"WE LIGHT UP A LIFE TO REMEMBER OUR LOVED ONES"

By Lynda Reid HOSPICE SUPPORTER


OUR FIVE YEAR STRATEGY

ONE YEAR ININ OCTOBER 2015, THE HOSPICE LAUNCHED A FIVE YEAR STRATEGY CALLED CARE & COMPASSION MATTERS. THE STRATEGY LAID OUT WHAT WE WANTED TO ACHIEVE OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS UNDER DIFFERENT THEMES – CARE MATTERS, GETTING IT RIGHT MATTERS, COMMUNITY MATTERS, MONEY MATTERS AND KNOWLEDGE MATTERS.

Over the last 12 months, our team has been working incredibly hard to achieve the goals which we had highlighted for year one of the strategy and we are delighted to share some of our achievements with you.

The last year has flown by, and we’ve made some significant and very noticeable changes to the Hospice. We’ve also made some small changes which make a big difference too.

CARE MATTERSWe have implemented strands of our art strategy through the installation of Our Hospice in Words in the glass corridor from the main reception to the Iona Café and we have created an art room for all patients, located on the Pentland Ward. We have also developed a partnership with Edinburgh Printmakers to create an exhibition of art work inspired by the Hospice, and we are seeking funding for an Artist in Residence.

We reviewed the roles of our ward volunteers and our reception volunteers - strengthening the team we have on reception to welcome visitors to the Hospice and ensuring volunteers are on hand in the wards to help staff, patients and families.

We have also introduced our furry friends – the therapets! We now have therapy dogs who come to the Hospice to visit patients and families, a service which has proved very popular.

Our Supportive Care Team has been developed, with the recruitment of new physiotherapists and occupational therapists, and a head of supportive care, to ensure our patients have access to the services we offer.

The community nursing team now offer their services seven days a week instead of Monday to Friday, recognising that people need support every day of the week.

Day Hospice services have also been redesigned, so that they better fit the needs of the patients and the Hospice. The Day Hospice team is now fully integrated with the community nursing team, making it easier for patients to be referred between the two and for patients to access the right service for them.

Getting It Right MattersAs part of our interior design project, both inpatient wards now have comfortable and relaxing family rooms, homely patient and family lounges, play areas for children and kitchen and dining rooms. The gardens have also been developed to create a peaceful and pleasant outdoor space.

Across all our services we have introduced a new system for recording all the care a patient receives, moving away from paper records to an electronic system. The team has worked incredibly hard to get the system in place and to make sure everyone who uses the system has the skills to do so.

Away from the wards, we have strengthened our Clinical Governance team whose job is to ensure we continue to provide high standards of care.

In addition, we have also introduced a new accounting system to our finance department, we have enhanced our risk management process, and improved the WiFi coverage across the Hospice.


MONEY MattersThe Fundraising Team has been as busy as ever, with the introduction of new events and initiatives to raise money for the Hospice. The Giant Pub Quiz was so successful in May, we are having another one in November, see page 19 for details on how to book tickets. We also have three very brave supporters who will be trekking 100km in to the Arctic Circle in the spring of 2017.

This year we introduced our Tribute Funds, with the installation of 800 handmade ceramic forget-me-not flowers in to our Tribute Garden. Since we launched the Tribute Funds, we are pleased to say that over 40 have been opened and £22,000 has been raised in memory of loved ones.

We opened a new shop on Dalry Road, which serves the local community and raises money for the Hospice. The Dalry Road shop was the first to feature our new colour scheme for the shops, and Morningside Road has also been rebranded. We will continue rebranding the rest of the shops, with the Fauldhouse shop next on the list. Furthermore, the shops also now have cybertills, which means we can easily reclaim GiftAid on items we sell.

KNOWLEDGE MattersWe have worked with our local NHS services to provide a secondment opportunity for two NHS nurses, to enhance their knowledge and understanding of palliative care and how the Hospice works.

Our Centre for Education & Research welcomed two new members of staff – a research fellow and a practice and staff development manager. The research fellow’s role is to develop research at the Hospice and to work in partnership with other organisations such as Marie Curie and the University of Edinburgh.

COMMUNITY MattersWe opened our doors in October 2015 and September 2016 for Doors Open Day, inviting the public to visit the Hospice and see our facilities and learn more about our history and services.

We also welcomed the public for our Art Friends exhibition and sale, and have had visitors from Iceland, Sweden and China who came to learn from us so they can develop palliative care practice in their home countries.

Applications to become a volunteer continue to increase, and we currently have 680 volunteers working alongside our staff, patients and families. We were pleased to be able to give out 72 long service awards to volunteers over the course of the year – tea and cake were enjoyed by all!

We were delighted to be invited to speak at Trinity Community Council, where we updated the council on the latest developments at the Hospice.

PROJECT MANAGEMENT MattersLynn Muir is a volunteer at the Hospice who has been working with the management team to help us structure how we report on the progress of the projects we have been working on.

Working one day a week, Lynn is setting up plans, summaries and reports which will track the progress being made across the Hospice. In order to do this, Lynn is gathering a thorough understanding of the five year plan, all of the activities that are being undertaken and who is responsible for delivering the changes.

Lynn said: “For many years I was employed as an IT programme / project manager in the financial sector and I have also volunteered as project manager in other charitable organisations. I have enjoyed working on these projects and as a volunteer at the Hospice, as it allows me to use my commercial experiences to benefit people as opposed to just financial institutions!

“Whilst my role doesn't shape the services, it helps make visible the changes that others are making to the services. To gather the information, I have to ask a lot of questions which in turn is making others think clearly about the response to the strategy. Reporting on the changes the team is delivering will help to bring focus and visibility to the implementation of the strategy, ensuring we are all working towards the same goals.”

CREATING FRIENDSHIPS, PUSHING YOUR LIMITS

THE CELTIC CHALLENGEThe Celtic Challenge departs the Hospice in Edinburgh and finishes on the tiny island of Iona, taking in some of Scotland’s most scenic and challenging cycling routes. Cycling 50 miles a day for four days, the Celtic Challenge forms friendships, tests your limits and is an incredibly rewarding way to raise funds for the Hospice. Ian Williamson, a volunteer at the Hospice, took part in 2015 and tells us about his experience…

Why did you sign-up for the Celtic Challenge?To raise funds for the Hospice and to get fit - I like to have a goal to help motivate me!

What was it about the Challenge that appealed to you?I enjoy cycling, I like a challenge and the opportunity to see some of Scotland’s beautiful scenery really appealed.

Did you have any cycling experience?I have some experience – I did the Whitehaven to Tynemouth Coast to Coast ten years ago, but prior to the Celtic Challenge I only cycled about town.

How did you find the training process?The training plan was excellent with clear targets for the weeks and months leading up to the ride. The practice ride was also a great idea as it was an opportunity to meet the other riders and assure us that we could ride hills as well as the next man and woman.

What was it like setting off from the Hospice? Just superb – we all got kitted-up in our Challenge cycling jerseys, had a great breakfast and took over the Iona café. But the best part was that as well as our relatives and friends waving us off there were lots and lots of staff, volunteers and patients wishing us well and counting us down for the off.

How did you find the cycling, did it get easier or harder as the days went on?Having followed the training plan the cycling was not as bad as I and others had feared. The way the days were set out was excellent, we did

the ride in 10-12 mile sections and had lots of refuelling stops. At each stop, we all waited until everyone had a good rest before pushing on.

What were the hardest and most rewarding parts of the route? Without appearing immodest there were not too many hard parts, apart from my self-imposed alcohol ban until the last night! The Rest & Be Thankful was the section we were all dreading beforehand - so when we all managed it and then whizzed down the other side to meet at the layby at the bottom it was magical! Plus, we all got a complimentary Mars Bar from the coffee shack at the top of the hill! As for rewards – great sense of personal achievement, raising funds for the Hospice, making new friends and realising that we all underestimate our abilities – no hill on the route was too steep!

How did you feel when you reached the finish point at Iona Abbey?Brilliant! Friends and families had made the trip to see us over the finish line and having a sweaty hug made it all worthwhile. There were lots of mixed emotions as we had all done the ride for different reasons and many absent friends were remembered.

What was your experience like overall?It was a marvellous experience. I would recommend the Celtic Challenge to people of all ages and abilities. The age range was 30-76, there were hybrid and road bikes plus a tandem. Most importantly although it is a Challenge, it is not a race. It is about enjoyment and it was most certainly enjoyable!


Would you like to join our team of Celtic Challenge cyclists in 2017? Do something amazing for yourself and the Hospice in our 40th year – be part of the Celtic Challenge! You can register today by going to www.stcolumbashospice.org.uk/celticchallenge or call the fundraising team on 0131 551 1381. The Celtic Challenge will take place from 17 – 21 May 2017.


CELEBRATING

40 YEARSOF ST COLUMBA'S HOSPICE IN 2017

2017 WILL BE A VERY SPECIAL YEAR FOR ST COLUMBA’S HOSPICE AS WE MARK 40 YEARS SINCE WE FIRST OPENED OUR DOORS!

In the last 40 years, you have helped us care for thousands of patients and their families, and we are incredibly grateful to every single person who has been a part of our Hospice community whether that is as a patient, family member, volunteer, staff member or supporter – every person has helped to make the Hospice the special place that it is today.

In 2017, we will be celebrating all year long and we hope you will join us in marking this special year. Here are some of the things we will be doing to celebrate 40 years of St Columba’s Hospice…

A SPECIAL LOGOKeep your eyes peeled for our special

40th anniversary logo, which will be

launched in January 2017 and will

highlight the 40 years we have been

providing care and support across

Edinburgh and the Lothians. You’ll see the

special logo sitting proudly next to our

regular dove logo for the whole of 2017.

THE NEXT 40 YEARS IN PALLIATIVE CARE – A CONFERENCEIn the autumn of 2017 we will be hosting a special conference in Edinburgh for health and social care workers, looking at what the Hospice has achieved over the last 40 years and what the next 40 years might bring. The conference will bring together some of palliative care’s most respected speakers to discuss how the care and support we provide might change in the coming decades.

IS IT A SPECIAL 40TH YEAR FOR YOU TOO?

If it’s your 40th birthday in 2017, or if you are celebrating your 40th wedding anniversary, why not celebrate with us? Make 2017 and your 40th celebrations even more special by fundraising for the Hospice, for example you could have a 1977 themed party and hold a raffle to raise money for the Hospice! Or, you could mark the occasion by taking part in four 10km running events and run 40km in total throughout the

year! You could ask family and friends to make a donation to the Hospice instead of giving gifts - we like to think of it as a celebration donation! We'd be incredibly touched if you shared your celebration with us. Get in touch with the Hospice’s fundraising team and we will support you with lots of ideas and tips for making your celebration a success!


Get in touch with the fundraising team by calling 0131 551 1381 or email [email protected]. We also have lots of fundraising information and inspiration on our website too!

A LOOK BACKThe Hospice has many photographs from throughout our history, here’s a selection from over the last 40 years. Do you have any pictures of the Hospice from the last 40 years? Please share them with us by emailing them to [email protected] or get in touch with the fundraising team.

1 Fundraising event in Charlotte Square Gardens, June 1981

2 Lord and Lady Provost with Dr Derek Doyle and Sister Simpson, 5 year anniversary visit in December 1982

3 A bereavement support group meeting with Sister McKenzie, Education Officer Jean Lugton, Dr Prue Barron and Dr Gena Halliday

4 Occupational Therapist Rosemary Mackenzie welcomes patients for the opening of Day Hospice in August 1981

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MAKE YOUR EMPLOYER PART OF OUR 40 FOR 40!We are looking for 40 brilliant employers

to join our 40 for 40 club! We are asking

40 local companies to celebrate with us

by raising £1,000 each in 2017, collectively

raising a massive £40,000 for our birthday

year. This could be done through staff

fundraising, coming along to the Hospice’s

events or a one-off donation.

For more information about our 40 for 40 club contact our trust and corporate fundraiser, Barbara Brockie, on 0131 551 1381.

ORGANISE YOUR OWN EVENT!If you have an idea for a fundraising activity

that you would like to organise, we’d be

delighted to help you with your event. We can

provide you with branded balloons, collection

buckets and tins, t-shirts, posters and a

fundraising pack to help you with your event.

Get in touch with the fundraising team and let

us know what you are going to do!


PHYSIOTHERAPY AND OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY AT THE HOSPICE

Through our five year strategy, Care and Compassion Matters, St Columba's Hospice has demonstrated its commitment to the development of services to help our patients and families be cared for and supported whether within the Hospice or at home. This has included an exciting opportunity to expand the occupational therapy and physiotherapy team.

This year we have welcomed physiotherapist Donna Duffy, physiotherapy assistant Val Gibson and occupational therapist Jennifer McLean. They join the already established therapy team of Yvonne Whitehouse, physiotherapist; Fiona Cruickshank, occupational therapist; and Marion Bowen, occupational therapy assistant, to provide support for inpatients and community patients alike. Both physiotherapy and occupational therapy work closely together and patients can be involved with one or both at different times of their illness. This team is complemented by Liam McAlonie, the patient and family support assistant, who is integral in supporting patients’ transition between the Hospice and home.

Current figures show the majority of people would choose to die at home and an increase in therapy services will help support people at home in their last weeks and days of life, by assessing for and arranging provision of specialist beds, chairs and other equipment. The service helps families feel confident in caring for someone in the safest ways to make them as comfortable as possible. There is a common

misconception that palliative care physiotherapy and occupational therapy are only appropriate when someone is coming to the end of their life; in fact, it is beneficial much earlier than that. With the advances in treatments for life-limiting illnesses, people are living much longer with these illnesses and the side effects that treatments can cause.

We provide practical support to enable people to overcome physical and psychological difficulties that prevent them from doing the activities that matter to them. We can look at the important areas of patients' lives and decide how best to work with them to achieve their goals and help people to move around and stay as active and independent as possible. With the expansion of the team, we have the opportunity to assess more people at home to make the environment more accessible, to provide equipment to aid everyday tasks, to assess for small adaptations at home like rails and bannisters and to provide specific functional exercise to help them achieve the things that are important to them.

We are also very pleased to now be in position to develop classes for symptom control including breathlessness, fatigue, anxiety, and muscle weakness either from illness or its treatments. We will provide guidance on appropriate types and level of activity and exercise, and work on specific things like strength and balance.

The additional input on the ward will help us assess and provide rehabilitation to patients who are admitted and will benefit from this to help maintain their levels of ability, and build on the existing role that we have on the ward supporting the transition between the Hospice and home.

We work closely with our inpatient and community staff as well as GPs, consultants, district nurses and carers, ensuring patients get a person-centred approach to their support. We aim to maximise patient’s abilities and help them to achieve their goals, whilst supporting them to cope and adapt with some of the physical and psychological problems they may face.


Since the recruitment of new volunteers at the beginning of this year, the number of tins has increased significantly and there has been a huge increase on the Hospice’s presence in our local community. We have 181 new outlets in this year alone thanks to the incredible efforts of our tin collectors, bringing the total number of tins to 377.

Thanks to the amazing work of our tin collectors and the outlets who support the Hospice, in the first seven months of this year we’ve already raised more than our total amount raised during 2015 – an amazing achievement so a big thank you to our tin collectors and the supporting outlets for all of their efforts and for their continued support.

Our tins can be found in pubs, cafés, hairdressers and pharmacies from Deans to Dunbar and we’re always looking for new volunteers and businesses to support our tin fundraising. If you are interested in becoming a tin collector or if your business would like to display one of our collection tins, please get in touch with our fundraising team on 0131 551 1381 or email [email protected].

OUR COLLECTION TINS PLAY A VITAL PART IN FUNDRAISING AND ARE MANAGED BY A GROUP OF 80 VOLUNTEERS WHO EACH LOOK AFTER AN AREA WITHIN EDINBURGH THAT IS LOCAL AND CONVENIENT TO THEM.

THE TAR-TIN ARMY

Thank you so much to the 178 participants who took on the challenge of The Push in September! Every participant conquered The Push and raised money to ensure the Hospice can continue to provide specialist support for patients and their families – and everyone at the Hospice is incredibly grateful for your amazing efforts! The pictures from The Push are all on the Hospice website, do have a look and if you’re feeling inspired don’t forget to have a look at our forthcoming events to see what other challenge events we have coming up in 2017!

THE PUSH 2016

REMEMBERING MUMKAREN LAMB’S MUM WAS DIAGNOSED WITH MOTOR NEURONE DISEASE AND SPENT HER FINAL WEEKS AT THE HOSPICE. HERE, KAREN SHARES HER STORY ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE SHE HAD AND WHY SHE HAS SET UP A TRIBUTE FUND...

My Mum, Dorothy Tuner, was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease at the end of February 2015. After being admitted to the Western General Hospital for 10 days, she was admitted to St Columba’s Hospice.

My Mum was my best friend and my soulmate, and we loved to spend time together. Mum loved going to our caravan in Jedburgh with my Dad, pottering about and spending time doing the garden.

When Mum was diagnosed, we had heard of MND and knew a bit about it, but the initial diagnosis was hard to understand and digest. Mum was diagnosed promptly but her health declined quickly.

When we visited the Hospice my Mum, Dad and I were all struck by the location, the grounds, the bedrooms and the sense of calmness throughout the whole Hospice.

The whole team at the Hospice took away the fear factor for my family, because everyone was so kind and talked to us so much about how my Mum was doing. The doctors explained everything to us, gave us lots of information and told us what was being done to help Mum.

The nurses were kind and light-hearted, using humour to keep Mum’s spirits up. When I wasn’t there at the Hospice, I knew Mum was being looked after. I never worried about her being at the Hospice.

We loved the room that Mum was staying in, and she enjoyed being able to sit in the chair in her room. She loved seeing and smelling the fresh flowers in her room, looking at the garden and the view over the courtyard. It was like a home from home and that is really important because it makes you feel so much more at ease.

The chaplaincy team at the Hospice knew I was due to get married in the spring, so before Mum died we had a blessing ceremony in the Columba Room followed by afternoon tea. It was so special to be able to share that with Mum and for her to see us having the blessing. A few weeks after Mum died, I got married. It was an emotional day, even more so because I wore her wedding dress.

Mum passed away only 33 days after being diagnosed with MND. Losing my Mum was a life changing experience and it made me realise how amazing St Columba’s Hospice is.

When I was visiting the Hospice I saw the stunning ceramic forget-me-not flowers in the courtyard. I found out more about the Tribute Garden and I thought it was the perfect tribute to my wonderful Mum. I have opened my Tribute Fund and I will raise money for Mum's fund and the Hospice.

St Columba’s Hospice is the most amazing place I have ever experienced. All of us will lose someone we love one day and having the support and care of a place like St Columba’s Hospice has been wonderful.


If you would like to find out more about Tribute Funds, visit our website at www.stcolumbashospice.org.uk/tributefunds, or call the fundraising team on 0131 551 1381.

£600T H U R S DAY 1 0 N OV E M B E R , 7 P M

A Pie A N D A Pint ( B E E R , G L A S S O F W I N E O R A C I D E R )

I NCLUDED IN THE T I CKET PR I CE

first prize2ND AND 3RD PLACE PRIZE SALS O U P FOR GRAB S

(OR £15 PER HEAD)

For tickets [email protected]

or call 0131 551 1381

The GiantPUBQUIZ

£75 for a team of 6£75 for a team of 6£75 for a team of 6

St Columba’s Hospice is a registered charity. Charity No. Sc003634

Edinburgh Corn Exchange, 10 New Market Rd,

Edinburgh,EH14 1RJ

AT EDINBURGHCORN EXCHANGE


RESEARCH MATTERSA KEY PART OF THE WORK DONE BY ST COLUMBA’S HOSPICE IS RESEARCH ABOUT PALLIATIVE CARE. THE RESEARCH WE DO, OFTEN WITH PARTNER ORGANISATIONS, CAN IMPACT HOW PEOPLE THINK ABOUT PALLIATIVE CARE ALL OVER THE WORLD.

Led by Dr Barry Laird, who is a consultant doctor at the Hospice as well as a clinician scientist at the University of Edinburgh, research was undertaken in to how symptoms of cancer develop which in turn showed that people with advanced cancer could experience less pain, fatigue and loss of appetite.

Dr Laird’s research is the first large study to show these symptoms may develop as a result of the body’s immune response to cancer and not simply as a consequence of a tumour growth. Dr Laird and the team he worked with showed that by targeting inflammation with existing immunotherapy drugs, it may

be possible to prevent these symptoms from developing and improve the patients’ quality of life.

Dr Laird said: “This study challenges the assumption that certain symptoms are an inevitable consequence of advanced cancer, and there is nothing doctors can do to make patients feel better. If we can understand what causes symptoms such as pain, fatigue and nausea, we can begin to tackle them. We already have drugs that target and reduce inflammation, so using these drugs specifically to treat symptoms, may make a real difference to people living with cancer.

A team of researchers from the Hospice worked with Marie Curie and the University of Edinburgh to identify age disparities in access to palliative care across Scotland’s population. The research found that people over the age of 70 are missing out on palliative care as assumptions are being made by their care providers that it will not benefit them.

The research examined the end of life experiences of 65 patients in Scotland. The research showed that because

it can be harder to identify clear signs which would indicate a person’s condition had worsened, the person was more likely to miss out on having access to palliative care that would be of benefit to them. To help to find a solution to this, the Hospice is working closely with other health and social care providers throughout Edinburgh and the Lothians to ensure everyone who would benefit from palliative care can access and benefit from it.

The Hospice’s Director of Education & Research, Dr Erna Haraldsdottir, had an article published in the European Journal of Palliative Care, about how important it is for families to work together with doctors and nurses when a person is dying. Dr Haraldsdottir said: “The death of a loved one is most often incredibly hard for the person’s family and friends and so it’s really important that where possible, people have a good death. What we mean by this is that the person does not experience medical intervention for the sake of it; the person is helped to be as pain-free as possible; and that the person’s family and friends can be with the person if they wish. As such, it’s vitally important that palliative care providers such as St Columba’s Hospice continue to provide teaching and learning opportunities to health and social care practitioners both in Scotland and globally, to ensure that patients and their families are able to experience a good death.”

To find out more about research at the Hospice please visit our website.


INTRODUCING THE

PERSON-CENTRED CARE PROJECT

In October 2015, a group of Hospice staff, volunteers and family members came together to begin work on a Person-centred Care Project. The project would be a 12 month journey of exploring what person-centred care is, and how the Hospice can improve it's person-centred care. Lynn Darke, a community palliative nurse specialist, and Dr Sam Bower who works on the inpatient unit, explain the Person-centred Care Project…

Tell us about what the group has done so far

Sam: “We have explored a variety of issues including what we feel St Columba's Hospice stands for, what person-centredness means to us, and how it is practiced in the Hospice. We also have looked at what it is like to work in the Hospice and what the workplace culture is like here. In addition, we looked at what it is that brings meaning to our work, and the challenges of working at the Hospice.”

Lynn: “We have gathered thoughts, feelings, and impressions from all members of the Hospice community asking what does person-centred care look like, how do we know when we’re getting it right, and what gets in the way of getting it right? We used these shared observations to create a working definition of what gold standard person-centred care looks like. Exploration of this working definition helped us to establish a benchmark from which to map where we currently are in relation to our gold standard definition, and begin to explore the possibility of projects that will enable us to engage with the whole Hospice community.”

How the group has approached the work it has done?

Sam: “We have had lots of group discussion and taken part in activities which helped us to think creatively. It was very important for us to get the opinions of everyone who works and volunteers at the Hospice, and the patients and those closest to them and we have done consultations, observations and interviews to gather information across a variety of settings within the Hospice.”

What are the next steps for the project?

Lynn: “Bringing our findings to the Hospice’s management team in a way that captures the heart and soul of the endeavour, not just our findings from the research. We want to develop safe, creative and inspiring ways for others to explore what they might have to offer, and to recognise the breadth of great work already being done that nurtures and enables us to be person-centred.”

Sam: “As a group we have a sense that this is really the beginning of something bigger, and we are currently working on ways to share the process and what we have learnt with the rest of the community.”

What does person-centred care mean to you?

Lynn: “The project encourages me to be fully myself, and in such a way that helps others to be fully themselves - recognising that may be easier some days than others, so let’s be kind and do what we can.”

Sam: “To me person-centredness means putting people first, and dealing with situations in a compassionate way. Person-centredness is about creating a culture where people feel listened to and appreciated. Our group has identified many ways in which the Hospice is doing really well at being a person-centred organisation, but there are challenges to person-centredness which we have to be conscious of in order to maintain this approach.”

Lynn Darke Dr Sam Bower


SUPER SHOPS!

BIG HEARTS!We were recently approached by Hearts Football Club who have a charitable organisation called Big Hearts - a volunteer programme which reaches out into the local community through the club’s extensive fan base. Many of the club’s supporters have signed up to volunteer in our shops and we are absolutely delighted that we already have some Big Hearts volunteers in our Dalry shop, which is on the ‘maroon mile’, and are looking forward to welcoming more.

STEPHANIE JOINS THE LEITH WALK SHOP TEAMStephanie Steele has joined the Leith Walk shop as the new manager, working alongside the team of volunteers. Following a five year stint working for John Lewis in several of their departments, Stephanie has enjoyed spending time in Vietnam travelling, three months in Finland learning Finnish and is soon to be marrying a Scots man! Having always loved charity shops, Stephanie was delighted to join the team in Leith and said that: “Working alongside the team of volunteers is brilliant. They are all so lovely and come from all walks of life, they each have their different stories and together we work to make sure the shop is full of interesting, collectable and quirky items.”

STANDARD LIFE SET THE STANDARD!All the shop managers whooped with joy when they heard that Standard Life wanted to hold another competition in the shops after the massively successful fundraising day two years ago. This year it followed the same format - four teams were sent into four of our Edinburgh shops with the challenge of seeing which team could raise the most money in one day. Reccies were made to the shops, windows planned and fundraising events held ahead of the big day. The Leith team spent weeks collecting yellow items for a really striking Sunshine on Leith window. A pub quiz was held in the VooDoo Rooms and a huge bake sale in the office to try to edge ahead of the competition! The day itself was huge fun, both for the teams and for the shops and volunteers. In the end, it was close call but the winners were the Stockbridge Team! Overall almost £4,000 was raised for the Hospice. A huge thank you to all the teams who really threw themselves into the challenge. If you would like to give a day of your time to volunteer for the Hospice please visit our website.

GIFTAID GROWS HOSPICE FUNDSThe shops are now set up to receive donations eligible for GiftAid, meaning we raise more money for the Hospice! For donations which are GiftAid enabled, we can claim back money from HMRC - so for example, an item sold for £10 would in fact generate £12.50 if the donor has completed a GiftAid form. Signing up for GiftAid is completely painless and could not be simpler - and you only have to do it once! There are forms in all the shops which require your name, address, email address (if you have one), phone number and signature. On completion you will be given your St Columba’s Hospice GiftAid card, and any time you bring donated goods into the shop, your card will be scanned and the goods effectively ‘GiftAid-ed’. It’s as simple as that so please do become a GiftAid donor!

EVENTS DIARY 2016/17

For more information on all of these events visit

www.stcolumbashospice.org.uk.


THE GIANT PUB QUIZTHURSDAY 10 NOVEMBER, EDINBURGH CORN EXCHANGE, £15 PER PERSON, £75 FOR A TEAM OF SIXJoin us at our winter Giant Pub Quiz! Book your table for this fantastic evening, testing your general knowledge for a chance to win the £600 cash prize! Tickets include a pie and a pint.

LIGHT UP A LIFE MONDAY 12 DECEMBER, CHARLOTTE SQUARE GARDENS, EDINBURGH, FREEJoin us for this special evening as we light up our Tree of Remembrance in Charlotte Square Gardens, Edinburgh. Each light on the tree is lit in memory of friends and family who have passed away. Carol singers and a wonderful atmosphere make this a special evening not to be missed.

BURNS SUPPERFRIDAY 27 JANUARY, EDINBURGH CORN EXCHANGE, £35 STANDARD TICKETS, £45 VIP TICKETS Dance away the winter blues at our Burns Supper! Enjoy an evening of live Scottish music, the address to the haggis, a traditional Burns Supper meal and dancing into the small hours.

STAND UP FOR ST COLUMBA’S HOSPICEFRIDAY 24 MARCH, PRESTONFIELD HOUSE, EDINBURGH, £95 PER PERSON Save the date and book your tables now for our annual evening of comedy, laughter, fine food and dancing at Prestonfield House, Edinburgh. Top comedy talent provide the entertainment, with live music, a four course dinner, a champagne reception, and dancing in opulent surroundings.

CELTIC CHALLENGE, 17 – 21 MAY 2017, EDINBURGH TO IONA, REGISTRATION FROM £125 Will you be part of an extra special Celtic Challenge team as we celebrate our 40th year? Cycle with us from Edinburgh to Iona – 200 miles across Scotland in four days. An incredibly rewarding challenge that is not to be missed.

THE GIANT PUB QUIZ JUNE 2017, EDINBURGH CORN EXCHANGE, £15 PER PERSON, £75 FOR A TEAM OF SIX Our Giant Pub Quiz is fantastic evening where you can test your general knowledge with your teammates and be in with the chance of taking home the £600 cash prize for 1st place!

ART FRIENDS 1 – 4 JUNE 2017, AT THE HOSPICE, FREEOur annual Art Friends exhibition features the very best Scottish artists alongside emerging new talent. Hosted over three days at the Hospice, the exhibition is the perfect opportunity for you to view and purchase affordable art for your home or as a gift.

A WALK TO REMEMBER 17 JUNE 2017, FROM BALERNO TO LEITH, REGISTRATION IS £15 FOR ADULTS AND £10 FOR CHILDREN.Walk to celebrate and remember those no longer with us, on A Walk to Remember. On this 12.5 mile or 7 mile route through the hidden heart of the city of Edinburgh, take time out to reflect and enjoy the peaceful surroundings with family and friends.

St Columbas Hospice Life magazine autumn 2016

Healthcare

Transcript of St Columbas Hospice Life magazine autumn 2016