This week it’s #OpenUpHospiceCare week, run by Hospice UK. A successful campaign that seeks to break down myths surrounding hospice care, raise awareness of the amazing work of hospices and to secure support for hospices and encourage communities to get…
This blog is an adaptation of a speech I recently gave at King George Hospital, Ilford, at the Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust day on palliative and end of life care. It was well received and I…
What a year 2018 has been. Such highs, such lows, but overall, it’s been an incredible year. I have had such fun, achieved a lot, received recognition for my work, been involved with even more work and projects, I’ve given…
Introduction: This blog is an adaptation of a speech I gave at a Healthcare Conferences UK (HC UK) conference on information sharing for patients and families, and across services at end of life, delivered at the “Caldicott End Of Life…
Recently two people got in touch with me and asked me a question about my thoughts on the future of hospices and hospice care. I spent about 2-2.5 hours thinking, brainstorming, and writing everything down in an email response. However,…
This week it’s Hospice Care Week. All of you know I am a palliative and hospice care advocate having been a beneficiary of such services since I was 17. You all know my story, being born with health problems and…
We awoke today to the news that one of our greatest minds, Professor Stephen Hawking, has passed away age 76. Stephen was an incredible person, he had intelligence that knew no bounds, determination and inner strength that would rival any…
Charlie Gard. A little boy whose care has polarised the world. A little boy with a severe condition called infantile encephalomyopathic Mitochondrial DNA Depletion Syndrome. He sadly passed away last week. His doctors for months had wanted to remove his…
On Tuesday 4th April, my hospice nurse Nicky and I sat down and talked the nitty gritty. We talked about how I am, what I've been up to, what's troubling me - the same as always. Then the conversation got…
Today is World Hospice and Palliative Care Day, celebrating supportive/palliative and hospice care around the world. This year's theme is Living And Dying In Pain: It Doesn't Have To Happen. Palliative care has been a part of my life since April…