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Paralympic gold medalist pays visit to St Ann’s Hospice for open discussion on end-of-life care

December 4, 2024 | 9:35am

Paralympian gold medal rower, Gregg Stevenson paid St Ann’s Hospice a visit as he has an interest in health inequalities as he is currently studying at Manchester Metropolitan University.

Gregg was greeted by Director of Clinical Services, Emma Dixon; Head of Clinical Services, Emma Barclay; Rehab Team Lead, Frances Brown; Head of Fundraising, Anne-Marie Wynn; Trainee Advanced Clinical Practitioner, Bobby Magee; and Occupational Therapist, Jody Lee Jones.

As Gregg is interested in the treatment of individuals in end-of-life care, the hospice staff held open and honest discussions about their experiences with treating people with life-limiting illnesses and health inequalities in palliative care. He was also given a tour of the Heald Green hospice where he met with an inpatient

Gregg who is from Lancashire, lost both of his legs in an explosion while serving as a Royal Engineer Commando in Afghanistan 15 years ago.

I have an interest in health inequalities as I am studying at Manchester Metropolitan University. So, I’ve come here today to learn more about how we treat people in end-of-life care, and the word for me today that sums up my experience is dignity, treating people with dignity. We’ve been talking about a sense of belonging and identity and it’s just been an incredible experience, and I am really excited to see the work that is going to be happening in the future.

Gregg Stevenson, Paralympic Gold Medalist

Director of Clinical Services at St Ann’s Hospice Emma Dixon was “delighted” to welcome Gregg to St Ann’s.

“Gregg has spoken with us about the inspirational work that he has done, not only as a rower, but with NHS England, and the Veterans across the North-West, and I am really excited to work with Gregg moving forward in the future, and hopefully get his support with our new build,” Emma said.

Jody Lee Jones took part in an open discussion with Gregg at the Hospice following his arrival.

“Today, I’ve had the pleasure of meeting with Gregg Stevenson, and I’ve been able to share a patient story focusing on our rehab approach here at the Hospice, which links in with Gregg’s own journey, focusing on belonging and identity and how important that is for the people that we work with,” Jody said.

Bobby Magee said it was a “great opportunity” to meet Gregg.

“Gregg has been telling us about his life journey and his rehab focus and what got him to think about how he can improve not only as an individual but also how he can link that into the work he is currently doing with his Masters and his PhD, also linking in with the support he is doing for Veterans at the moment. There are loads of similarities and differences between what we can do and it’s about how we can link up and move together with all those connections in the future,” Bobby said.

St Ann’s staff present at Hospice UK’s national convention

December 3, 2024 | 5:00pm

A number of St Ann’s staff members presented at Hospice UK’s annual National Conference 2024 taking place in Glasgow.

Programme Lead, GM Hospices Provider Collaborative, Martin Foster; IPU Ward Sister, Lynsey Ayres; and Dr Lesley Henson were the St Ann’s Hospice staff members who presented at the conference.

The theme for this year’s event which took place from November 26 – 28 was ‘Hospice care for all, for now, forever’ and the three day conference was officially opened by Her Royal Highness Princess Anne.

Following a consultation with the palliative and end-of-life care sector, Hospice UK outlined three key themes on the challenges facing members and the sector. The conference programme explored three priorities: improving equity of access, enhancing quality care, and achieving sustainability.

Martin Foster said his presentation was based around the collaborative approach adopted by St Ann’s, along with colleagues across the Greater Manchester Hospices Collaborative, to sharing and using their data in a more clever, meaningful and impactful way.

“My presentation brought together a little bit of the past and a little bit of the future. It first focused on the early stages of our collaborative data journey together, which started slowly but has set us in really good stead. I then looked to a more exciting future around data; to a more sophisticated and exciting collaborative approach to sharing really important data with the Greater Manchester Health and Care Intelligence Hub,” Martin said.

It was quite nice to get some real-time interest and validation following the presentation. Attendees at the event were tapping me on the shoulder, saying they have little similar in terms of a data approach, how lucky we are, and how well we are doing.

Martin Foster, Programme Lead, GM Hospices Provider Collaborative

Dr Lesley Henson’s presentation was about the role of the hospice in supporting patients who are in a prolonged disorder of consciousness.

“We worked with some of the medical and nursing team here at St Ann’s Hospice, and also with one of our bereaved caregivers. Together we put a poster together with information and a case story about one of the patients who died at the hospice. That was displayed at the conference,” Lesley said.

The Hospice UK’s annual National Conference allowed St Ann’s to broadcast our role as leaders in the hospice sector. Our presenting team were able to demonstrate our bold and brave approach and shine a focus on innovation and learning from others.

Local golf club raises thousands for St Ann’s Hospice

November 30, 2024 | 12:00pm

Bramall Golf Club have raised over £13,000 for St Ann’s Hospice, continuing their long tradition of supporting the hospice.

The golf club were able to raise the funds through gaining sponsorship for an annual charity golf competition and by selling tee times, tickets and raffle tickets which go towards the total collection.

Member of Bramall Park Golf Club, Chris Fensom said that the golf club is able to raise money year on year due to the dedication from the community.

“Some people have been coming to the charity golfing day for years and years. It’s a really well supported occasion. The whole day is packed full of golfing fun, followed by an evening presentation where we host the raffle,” Chris said.

Chris said it was extra important this year that the golf club raised funds for St Ann’s due to the hospice’s ongoing Build it Together appeal.

The Build it Together appeal aims to raise £2m for the continued construction and delivery of a new hospice building in Heald Green. So far almost £1.5m has been raised.

Community Fundraiser for St Ann’s Hospice, Greg Kelly thanked Bramall Golf Club for their “thoughtful donation”.

“Bramall Park Golf Club have been supporting St Ann’s Hospice since 1990, they have raised a total of well over £250,000 for the hospice so far and this £13,000 will in no doubt be put to good use. We cannot thank them enough for their continued support and I look forward to hearing from them again in the future,” Greg said.

Local synagogue helps St Ann’s Hospice with Mitzvah Day volunteering

November 29, 2024 | 5:00pm

A team of volunteers from Bowdon Synagogue in Altrincham spent the afternoon volunteering for St Ann’s Hospice as part of Mitzvah Day.

Mitzvah Day is the UK’s largest faith-led day of social action. It is a Jewish led day focusing on bringing people of all faiths and backgrounds to volunteer side-by-side, building longstanding, genuine relationships.

The volunteers from Bowdon Synagogue spent their time at St Ann’s helping us with the gardening, cutting briars, trimming hedges, raking and collecting leaves which have fallen over autumn. They also helped us with preparations for the upcoming Great Mancunian Ball and were given a tour of the hospice by Chief Executive, Rachel McMillan and Head of Fundraising, Anne-Marie Wynne.

Sam Bernstein from Bowdon Synagogue said the group chose to help two charities for Mitzvah Day this year, St Ann’s Hospice, and the Wellspring, a homeless facility in Stockport.

Sam says she has known of St Ann’s for years as she always drove past the Heald Green hospice when dropping her children to school.

“I also had a friend who was treated here. She came here two days before she died. I saw first-hand what an amazing place it is. I had always heard of it but had never actually seen it until then, and I thought that this would be the perfect opportunity to let other people see the work that goes on here,” Sam said.

Community Fundraiser for St Ann’s Hospice, Greg Kelly thanked Bowdon Synagogue for their volunteering efforts.

As St Ann’s is a registered charity, we rely on the community for their help in so many areas. Our gardens at our Heald Green site have become overrun with leaves from autumn so Bowdon Synagogue volunteering their time to help clear paths, cut back hedges, and trimming briars helps us out a great deal. It was also a brilliant way for us to learn more about Mitzvah Day and how it encourages social action

Greg Kelly, Community Fundraiser for St Ann’s Hospice

Sam says Mitzvah Day as a concept has been going for nearly 20 years now.

“Mitzvah is a Jewish word, and it means ‘good deed’. It’s not about Jewish people helping the Jewish community, it’s about Jewish people working together with other communities and helping each other,” Sam said.

“Leading up to Mitzvah Day, I always look at other people in the wider community who might need help, hence us working with St Ann’s and the Wellspring.

“Mitzvah Day is not about fundraising, as we do that throughout the year. This is about getting people to do some good. It opens people’s eyes to the amount of people around them that are benefitting or can benefit from support and it brings us together,” she added.

Mitzvah Day officially took place on Sunday, November 24.

The Great Mancunian Ball raises over £550,000 for the St Ann’s Hospice new build

November 29, 2024 | 9:56am

The Great Mancunian Ball, hosted by husband-and-wife Gary and Emma Neville raised £565,980 for the St Ann’s Hospice new build. All funds raised by the event will go towards the construction of a new hospice in Heald Green, replacing the old site which is over 150 years old.

The ball, which was held at Aviva Studios, the iconic home of Factory International, was designed and planned by industry-leading events company Taylor Lynn Corporation (TLC) with support from Truth Creative and the team at St Ann’s Hospice. The venue was transformed to include an international 18-piece party band, The Swan Band, and a scheme of state-of-the-art intelligent lighting.

The night kicked off with a live recording of the award-winning The Overlap presents Stick to Football podcast featuring Gary Neville, Roy Keane, Ian Wright, Jill Scott, and Jamie Carragher discussing all things football and Manchester.

Guests were then treated to an exquisite three-course menu curated by Hessian Fine Dining. The evening included presenter Sally Lindsay and St Ann’s Hospice Ambassador, Lee Boardman coming to the stage to share their personal stories of the care their families received at St Ann’s Hospice.

An auction during the night featured items such as a chance to play five-a-side football against the cast of Stick to Football, the use of private box at Old Trafford donated by Noel McKee, and dinner for ten with Take That legend Howard Donald.

We are so proud to be supporting St Ann’s Hospice by hosting The Great Mancunian Ball. It was an amazing event and a huge success for fundraising for the new hospice. We all had a brilliant event, but most importantly we were able to help this fabulous charity to make their new hospice a reality.

Gary Neville

“Emma and I have been lucky enough to meet the patients and staff at the hospice and every time we visit, we are blown away by the care and support. But you can see the building they are in now is getting tired and not working for them.

“They deserve so much more, and they need a state-of-the-art hospice. They shouldn’t be making do when they are caring for these patients and their loved ones who are facing the most challenging time of their lives.”

Chief Executive of St Ann’s Hospice, Rachel McMillan thanked everyone who bought tickets to The Overlap Live Stick to Football, attended the Great Mancunian Ball, and or donated on the night.

“The whole event has been incredible and Gary and Emma, Liz Taylor, and everyone else who has supported us to bring this ball to life, are nothing short of sensational. For them to help us raise an astonishing £565,980 for the new hospice is truly extraordinary. It means the absolute world to us here at St Ann’s and brings us even closer to our fundraising targets to build our new hospice” Rachel said.

Liz Taylor, founder of Taylor Lynn Corporation (TLC), designed the event and also played a pivotal role in securing sponsorship to support the fundraising efforts for the new hospice.

“It has been an absolute honour to be part of The Great Mancunian Ball and help bring this extraordinary vision to life. When Gary and Emma approached me, they could have chosen anyone to support them, but they trusted me because of TLC’s reputation for crafting unforgettable and unique events. Naturally, I said yes without hesitation, donating TLC’s services in support of St Ann’s Hospice.

We have been overwhelmed by the incredible support from all of our suppliers, who have gone above and beyond, generously donating their time and resources to support St Ann’s Hospice. A special mention must go to Options Great Hire, whose contribution of furniture, linen, crockery, cutlery, glassware, and kitchen equipment saved tens of thousands of pounds. This level of generosity is remarkable, and we extend our deepest thanks to everyone who made this possible

Liz Taylor, Taylor Lynn Corporation

Prior to the Great Mancunian Ball, Gary and Emma visited St Ann’s Hospice and took the time to visit patients in the Heald Green inpatient unit.

“It was so special to visit the hospice and meet some of the patients. To be able to do this just before the ball was a fantastic motivator to raise as much money as we possibly could on the night. It reminded us all of what we are doing this for and the difference it will make to people in Manchester,” Emma said.

As well as fundraising from special events like The Great Mancunian Ball, St Ann’s Hospice Build it Together public appeal aims to raise £2 million to contribute to the new building. Prior to the Great Mancunian Ball, this appeal had raised nearly £1.5 million and donations of all sizes are welcome, for example £25 will buy a pallet of 25 bricks for the new build or £100 will fund a relaxation room for families and patients to enjoy. You can click here to donate.

St Ann’s Hospice launches Vinted store

November 27, 2024 | 9:00am

St Ann’s Hospice have expanded its online trading by creating a profile on popular online marketplace site, Vinted.

Vinted has grown in popularity over the last number of years in the United Kingdom and now St Ann’s is selling pre-loved clothes and various other items on the platform.

All profit raised goes to St Ann’s Hospice.

Head of Trading as St Ann’s Hospice, Ryan Perkins said the launch of the Vinted store keeps St Ann’s up to date with current times.

Our Vinted store allows us to connect with a broader audience while continuing to raise crucial funds for the compassionate care we provide. We’ve already seen fantastic feedback on purchases.

Ryan Perkins, Head of Trading as St Ann’s Hospice

“Every item purchased from our Vinted store directly contributes to the care and support provided to people impacted by life-limiting illnesses in Greater Manchester. By shopping with us, you’re not just finding unique pre-loved items—you’re helping to make a real difference in the lives of patients and their loved ones,” Ryan added.

To visit the St Ann’s Hospice Vinted store, click here.

St Ann’s Hospice unveil Investors in People Platinum plaque

November 25, 2024 | 5:19pm

Investors in People We invest in people Platinum accreditation plaque

Today, both St Ann’s Hospice sites held unveilings for our We invest in people Platinum award from Investors in People.

Leading the celebration was Head of People and Culture, Michelle Bradbury, who said: “It is both an honour and a privilege to be here as we celebrate a remarkable achievement for St Ann’s Hospice — the Investors in People Platinum Award.”

Only 7% of organisations assessed achieve Platinum accreditation, and at the heart of this achievement is the recognition that every single person at St Ann’s is involved in supporting each other. We are all driven by the same purpose: to make work a better place.

Michelle Bradbury, Head of People and Culture, St Ann’s Hospice

Unveiling We invest in people Platinum award plaque from Investors in People at Little Hulton hospice

At its core, Investors in People is about our teams and our colleagues. It’s about understanding that an organisation’s true strength lies not only in its products, services, or systems but in its people — their dedication, talent, and our collective ambition to be the best at what we do.

Our report stated: ‘At St Ann’s Hospice, you strive to create a high-performing organisation where values, strong leadership, and a culture of continuous care for your community foster an environment where both patients and team members can thrive.’

Unveiling We invest in people Platinum award plaque from Investors in People at Heald Green hospice

This award reflects our commitment to creating a workplace that inspires and challenges people to reach their full potential, building high-performing teams and individuals.

While today we celebrated this incredible achievement, it’s important to recognise that this is not the end but rather a milestone in our ongoing journey. Thank you, Team St Ann’s!

St Ann’s Hospice hosts homelessness palliative care learning event

November 22, 2024 | 1:58pm

St Ann’s Hospice yesterday brought together professionals and frontline workers from heath, housing, local authority, social care and third sector services and sector-leading guest speakers at a learning event about the experiences of death and dying for people experiencing homelessness.

St Ann’s has been running a Homeless Palliative Care Service across the ten boroughs of Greater Manchester since 2020, funded as a five-year scoping project by the National Lottery Community Fund (formerly the Big Lottery Fund).

Colleagues, partners and collaborators from across Greater Manchester and beyond were invited to the event at Friends Meeting House in Manchester City Centre to hear the key findings from the project, to consider them together and drive meaningful change.

St Ann’s have this week published an evaluation report of the Homeless Palliative Care Service. As it stands, the service will end in January 2025 as further funding has not yet been secured.

Speaking at the event were Heidi McIntyre and Niamh Brophy, current and former Homeless Palliative Care Coordinators at St Ann’s; Professor James Kingsland OBE, a primary care physician, national clinical lead of a programme that addresses health inequalities across England and world authority on heathcare reform; and Dr Gemma Yarwood and Dr Gary Witham, senior researchers in Substance Use and Associated Behaviours at the School of Nursing and Public Health at Manchester Metropolitan University.

Also presenting were Dr David Waterman, Medical Director at St Ann’s and Greater Manchester Palliative Clinical Lead; Ryan Young, Inclusion Health GP Lead at Brownlow Homeless Health Inclusion Service in Liverpool; Hayley Jones, Director of Homeless Services and Katie Taylor, Director of Specialist Services at YMCA Hestia House in Liverpool; and Beth Plant, Funding Manager from the National Lottery Community Fund.

Many of the speakers touched on the fact that Manchester faces one of the most severe homelessness challenges in the UK, ranking third-highest for homelessness per capita.

People experiencing homelessness – in all its forms – are known to be one of the groups who experience inequitable access to palliative and end-of-life care.

As homelessness continues to rise across the UK, so too does the level of advanced, deteriorating ill health, which is reflected in the increasing number of deaths. Many of the day’s speakers emphasised the need for equitable access to palliative care being essential to improve the experience of death and dying for people experiencing homelessness. Often this can mean people dying as comfortably as possible, in a dignified way, in a place of their choosing.

Rachel McMillan, Chief Executive of St Ann’s, opened and closed the event. She said:

“This event represents an invaluable opportunity to come together with a common purpose: addressing the critical needs of people experiencing homelessness who are facing life-limiting illnesses. Homelessness is compounded by unmet health needs and shortened life expectancy. This work is more urgent than ever. Together, we will discuss how we can expand our reach and deepen our impact.

By uniting our knowledge and resources and having a mindset of collaboration, we can build a healthcare system that is more accessible, inclusive, responsive, and compassionate, ensuring that support reaches everyone who needs it.

Rachel McMillan, Chief Executive, St Ann’s Hospice

The theme of collaboration was echoed throughout the day by speakers and attendees.

Since St Ann’s launched the Homeless Palliative Care Service, it has delivered over 131 case-managed interventions, provided more than 250 digital services to reduce exclusion, and offered significant and consistent in-reach support to high-need hostels.

Rachel said: “Our trauma-informed, flexible approach has shown the profound impact that inclusive, tailored care can have on those who might otherwise feel invisible within the healthcare system.”

Emma Dixon, Director of Clinical Services at St Ann’s, hosted the event, and Emma Barclay, Head of Clinical Services, conducted a multi-disciplinary team (MDT) panel discussion focusing on a case study of a person experiencing homelessness who was cared for at St Ann’s Hospice in the last year, highlighting both the positive outcomes achieved and the challenges of this work.

The event was closed with a call to action for those in the room to commit to improving outcomes for those experiencing homelessness.

By investing our time, resources, and collective commitment, we can ensure that no one, regardless of their circumstances, faces their journey alone. Let’s seize this moment to drive meaningful change, expanding support and improving outcomes for those experiencing homelessness in our communities.

Rachel McMillan, Chief Executive, St Ann’s Hospice

The evaluation report of the Homeless Palliative Care Service at Ann’s Hospice is available to download from our website here.

For more information on the Homeless Palliative Care Service, or to make a referral if you are a health or social care professional (including support workers and hostel staff), see our website here.

If you have any questions or would like to discuss anything with our Homeless Palliative Care Coordinator, please email Heidi McIntyre at HMcIntyre@sah.org.uk.

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