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Theme: Our care and services

St Ann’s Homeless Palliative Care Coordinator featured on international news site

December 21, 2021 | 8:00am


For most people, when asked where they would like to be cared for and to spend their last days, their wish is to be at ‘home’. Home means so much more than just the physical structure you live in; it’s a place of emotional support, safety, shelter. A place to retreat to at the end of the day and somewhere to take shelter from the world when you are unwell.


Niamh Brophy, Homeless Palliative Care Coordinator

It is estimated that at least 150 million people across the world do not have a place to call home. Instead, they live their lives on the streets, or staying in insecure or temporary accommodation. These environments are often ill equipped to support someone whose health is deteriorating.

At St Ann’s, we envisioned a different approach to care in order to reach people who might not traditionally access our services. We always want to provide support in a way that is best tailored to people’s individual needs and wishes, and recognise that a hospice building isn’t always right for everyone.

This week Niamh Brophy, our Homeless Palliative Care Coordinator, told ehospice about our approach to homelessness and palliative care, and shared some of best practice and practical steps people can take to make services more accessible which are highlighted in our new film.

You can read the article online on ehospice.

Watch our new film

Watch the film on our website, where you can also find other useful resources about palliative care and homelessness.

Watch the film




Royal visit to commemorate a very special moment in our history

December 8, 2021 | 9:28am
The Princess Royal visiting St Ann's Hospice and meeting staff

This year we’ve been celebrating 50 years since our Heald Green hospice opened, and The Princess Royal joined our staff, patients and volunteers as we marked the occasion. The Princess Royal was given a tour of the hospice, and unveiled a plaque and planted a special commemorative tree to mark the occasion.

The Princess Royal unveiling plaque to commemorate the visit and the anniversary.


We’d like to say a huge thank you to Her Royal Highness, The Princess Royal for taking time in her busy schedule to come to St Ann’s. We were honoured to show her around our Heald Green site, and to introduce her to some of our patients and their families, staff and volunteers.




We’re hugely proud to have reached our 50th birthday, and it’s only thanks to the local community that we’ve been able to do that. That’s especially true over the last two years when we’ve all been working really hard to continue providing care throughout the pandemic.

We’re providing a huge range of services to local people, whether via our inpatient units on our hospice sites, or virtually. We’re also caring for people in their own homes, or the place they call home, and I’m really proud of how we’ve adapted to continue doing that despite the challenges that have come with the Covid-19 pandemic.


The Princess Royal visiting St Ann's Hospice and meeting staff


Hundreds of thousands of people have been part of St Ann’s history over the last half a century, whether as patients, family members, staff, volunteers, or supporters.

Whether it’s the support we receive from fundraisers who generously help us raise the £20,000 a day we need to keep our services running, the endless time our army of more than 700 local volunteers give to help staff and patients, or the businesses and health care professionals who collaborate with us in so many ways – we simply wouldn’t have been here for so long without them all.



There’s been so much going on to mark our magnificent milestone this year, from our special edition Manchester Virtual Walk, to our bloomingly brilliant garden at the Manchester Flower Show. From the incredibly moving art installation at the Trafford Centre made from a thousand metal forget-me-not flowers, to all of the individuals and groups joining us to take on a sporting challenge as part of our birthday year, we’ve been overwhelmed by the support and outpouring of love for our charity.



It’s so interesting looking back and reflecting on St Ann’s unique history and how privileged we have been, over the years, to have touched the lives of so many families. What’s interesting is that while hospice care changes and its breadth and ambition is probably unrecognisable to the care provided when the early hospices opened around half a century ago, the ethos of what we do remains the same. 

We always want to provide individualised, holistic care to our patients, and our overarching aim is to ensure they have the very best quality of life as possible. That hasn’t changed in almost half a century, and as we look ahead and evolve and develop our services for the future, we know that will always remain most important to us.


Rachel McMillan, Chief Executive of St Ann’s

In 1967 Dame Cicely Saunders oversaw the creation of the UK’s first modern hospice, St Christopher’s Hospice in London. Around the same time, it was recognised that a hospice was needed in Manchester. Dr Moya Cole, from The Christie Hospital, informally approached the Bishop of Manchester, the Right Reverend Dr William Greer, asking if local churches would join together to set up a hospice.

Our hospice in Heald Green received its first patients on 17 May 1971. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother, officially opened the hospice in June 1971.

We opened a second hospice site in Little Hulton which began receiving patients in 1979, and Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal came to officially open it in May that year.

The Princess Royal signs a visitors book.

Do you want to help support St Ann’s to care for patients for another 50 years?

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Hospice homeless service wins Mayor’s award

December 3, 2021 | 8:12am

The GM Champion Awards are the only Greater Manchester-wide awards to recognise those people who regularly go the extra mile to improve the health and wellbeing of the people of Greater Manchester.

Our Homeless Palliative Care Coordinator, Niamh Brophy, was chosen for the Mayor’s Special Recognition Award for our innovative Homeless Palliative Care service.

Our pioneering homeless service is the first city-wide service in Manchester to work collaboratively with partners who support people experiencing homelessness.


We’re so proud of Niamh Brophy, our Homeless Palliative Care Coordinator, and our Homeless Palliative Care service for winning this award and being recognised for going the extra mile to help others during the pandemic.

We believe passionately in ensuring that anyone – whatever community they belong to – can access hospice care. Modern hospice care isn’t just about what happens within the walls of our hospice sites – it’s also about reaching out and going to where the people that need our specialist care are.


Rachel McMillan, Chief Executive at St Ann’s Hospice

We have recently launched a new film to help professionals support people experiencing homelessness at the end of their life. With funding from the National Lottery Community Fund, a new film, ‘Homeless, young and dying: we can do better’, was commissioned to raise awareness of these issues.

The film, which is available for free on their website, brings together voices from the homeless and palliative care sectors to highlight some of the challenges and inequalities people experiencing homelessness face at the end of life, and how it can be improved.

 

Homeless Film

Click here to watch




Homelessness and palliative care: new film from St Ann’s Hospice

December 1, 2021 | 12:16pm
A screenshot of Niamh Brophy being interviewed from the film

We’ve launched a new film to help professionals support people experiencing homelessness at the end of their life. The film brings together voices from the homeless and palliative care sectors to highlight some of the challenges and inequalities people experiencing homelessness face at the end of life, and how it can be improved.

People experiencing homelessness suffer from poor health disproportionately. For people who are in need of support for cancer or other life-limiting illnesses, they experience many barriers to health care – especially if their health is getting worse, or they’re nearing the end of their life.

People affected by homelessness often die 30 years younger than people who are housed, and these deaths are often unplanned, with access to palliative care very unusual and care often being crisis-led.

With funding from the National Lottery Community Fund, a new film, ‘Homeless, young and dying: we can do better’, was commissioned by St Ann’s Hospice and produced by StGilesMedical to raise awareness of these issues.


At St Ann’s we’re proud of our commitment to improving our reach, as we aim to ensure as many people as possible can access palliative and end of life care – whatever their background, and whatever community they’re from. Our homeless palliative care service works collaboratively with partners across the city who support people experiencing homelessness, our teams provide expertise and care right when it’s needed most. We’ve seen first-hand the impact that the specialist care we provide has on people at that extremely vulnerable time in their life, and what can be achieved when we work together with colleagues in the homeless sector.



Jude Holt, Head of Practice Development at St Ann’s Hospice

Jude explained: “The aim of our film is bring together voices from across the hospice and homeless sectors to raise awareness of the barriers to palliative care, and the complexity of need. We want this film to be a useful resource which shares best practice and gives hope that by working together, we can continue to influence change and improve the lives of thousands of people who need specialist care at a vulnerable time in their life.”

St Ann’s Homeless Palliative Care Coordinator, Niamh Brophy, is interviewed in the film and shares best practice and learnings from St Ann’s Homeless Palliative Care service, alongside interviews with St Ann’s Chief Executive Rachel McMillan and Jill Mulcahy, a specialist palliative care nurse on our inpatient unit.

Other contributors to the film include Dr Caroline Schulman, Dr Kathryn Mannix, Dr Ruth Eldson, Greater Manchester Housing First, Great Chapel Street Medical Centre, Groundswell, Providence Row Housing Association, St Mungo’s, Single Homeless Project, Sir Edward Davey and Urban Village Medical Centre.

You can watch the film at www.sah.org.uk/HomelessFilm and find other useful resources about palliative care and homelessness.

Watch the film

Watch the film on our website, where you can also find other useful resources about palliative care and homelessness.

Watch the film online




St Ann’s awarded gold accreditation in our golden anniversary year

November 18, 2021 | 8:17am
Three staff members and the IIP assessor holding gold balloons which spell GOLD.

The ‘We invest in people’ accreditation is recognised in 66 countries around the world, making it the global benchmark when it comes to people management. Only 17% of accredited organisations achieve Gold, which has recently been awarded to St Ann’s. 


We’re delighted to have been awarded Gold accreditation in our golden 50th birthday year.
We’re extremely proud of the world-class support we provide at the hospice and in the community. It’s only possible thanks to the hard work and dedication of our amazing staff and volunteers.
We’re really passionate about supporting the wellbeing and development of our teams at the hospice, and just like we support our patients in a holistic way, we really care about making sure our colleagues can bring their whole selves to work, that we have a culture where people feel valued and respected and that we’re all working towards our purpose together. I’m delighted that this gold accreditation recognises that.


Rachel McMillan, Chief Executive at St Ann’s Hospice


We’d like to congratulate St Ann’s Hospice. Gold accreditation on We invest in people is a fantastic effort for any organisation, and places St Ann’s Hospice in fine company with a host of organisations that understand the value of people.


Paul Devoy, CEO of Investors in People

Find out more about working for St Ann’s

If you’d like to join our passionate, committed and dedicated family take a look at our job vacancies.

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5 minutes with… Lisa Corbett, Safeguarding Lead at St Ann’s Hospice

November 12, 2021 | 2:58pm

What attracted you to work at St Ann’s? 

My first experience of St Ann’s was as a community Social Worker. I visited several times to support with discharge planning. The depth of compassion and dedication shown by all the staff always struck me, and the welcoming atmosphere.         

I also have a personal connection to St Ann’s, as my brother was cared for at St Ann’s Hospice. It was truly comforting to know that he and his family were so well cared for at the end of his life.      

When an opportunity to work at the hospice arose, I instantly knew it was a place I wanted to work. I have been extremely fortunate to work at the hospice for nearly 9 years. I’m Team Leader of the Patient and Family Support Team and also Safeguarding Lead at the Hospice. 

What does safeguarding mean? 

Safeguarding is about keeping people safe from harm, abuse and neglect. It is about supporting individuals to make their own choices and promoting the wellbeing of the person, making sure we treat people as individuals and take into account their thoughts, feelings, wishes and beliefs. 

What does your role as Safeguarding Lead involve? 

St Ann’s Hospice takes its safeguarding responsibilities very seriously. We make every effort to make sure we provide safe and effective care. My role as the Safeguarding Lead is to help ensure the Hospice continues to provide excellent care and is a safe setting for patients, families, staff and volunteers. 

My role includes:         

  • Ensuring our safeguarding policies and procedures are up to date. 
  • Making sure patients and their families, staff and volunteers know what to do if they have a safeguarding concern. 
  • Training all staff to understand the signs and symptoms of abuse and neglect 
  • Providing support and advice to all staff and volunteers regarding policy, procedure and their responsibilities in safeguarding.    
  • Managing safeguarding concerns and liaising with partner agencies such as Social Services and the NHS.   
  • Maintaining and reviewing St Ann’s strategic plan for safeguarding. 
  • Supporting an honest and open culture at the hospice.  

What’s one thing that most people don’t know about you?  

I have a degree in Fine Art and before training to become a Social Worker I worked as an Artist. I gained grant sponsorship from North West Arts to provide Art sessions in the community and discovered that I had a passion for working with people.   

What do you like to do when you’re not at work? 

I love taking my dog Isla on long walks, especially if there is opportunity for a pint of the local brew in a cosy country pub…however we invariably only get to sit outside the pub as she’s a bit of mucky pup!  

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Hospice homeless service shortlisted in health awards

November 2, 2021 | 10:26pm

The GM Champion Awards are the only Greater Manchester-wide awards to recognise those people who regularly go the extra mile to improve the health and wellbeing of the people of Greater Manchester.  

We have been shortlisted for the award for our innovative Homeless Palliative Care service. 

Our pioneering homeless service is the first city-wide service in Manchester to work collaboratively with partners who support people experiencing homelessness to provide expertise and care right when it’s needed most.  

The awards are organised by Greater Manchester Health & Social Care Partnership, the body that oversees the area’s £6bn devolved health and social care budget, with support from the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham. 

The winners will be announced at a virtual ceremony in November. 


We’re delighted to be shortlisted as Inclusion Champions. We believe passionately in ensuring that anyone – whatever community they belong to – can access hospice care.   
Modern hospice care isn’t just about what happens within the walls of our hospice sites – it’s also about reaching out and going to where the people that need our specialist care are. We’re proud to work with healthcare professionals and homeless sector staff across Manchester to ensure everyone in our city can have access to the right end of life care.


Rachel McMillan, Chief Executive at St Ann’s Hospice


I am pleased to support these Health and Care Champion Awards. They are even more special this year, as we are able to recognise everyone who has gone above and beyond during the pandemic. The last 18 months have been an incredibly hard and challenging time, especially for those working on the frontline in health and social care and those volunteering in their communities.  
With categories such as Key Worker and Returning Champion, we are able to thank those who have stepped up during one of the biggest health crises we have ever faced. Congratulations to the individuals and teams who have been shortlisted. Everyone who has been nominated should be proud – all these people play a vital role in improving the lives and outcomes of people across Greater Manchester.


Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester

Find out more about our homeless palliative care services

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St Ann’s new training for community-based care providers

September 9, 2021 | 8:00am
A magnifying glass with an eye inside, and the words 'recognising dying' underneath

The free online training will cover an introduction to palliative and end of life care, as well as the signs that indicate someone may be in the last year or last days of life.   

It will also help identify ways to support people as they near end of life, and advise on ways that staff and carers can also ensure their own wellbeing during what can be a challenging and mentally difficult time. 

The training is available in a number of slots throughout September, October and November, with the hospice also offering additional free sessions online or in person for teams who aren’t able to make the scheduled dates.  


The pandemic has put the invaluable role of care and nursing homes in the spotlight, and we know it can be difficult for staff to sometimes recognise the signs of when someone may be approaching end of life, or why that might be an important thing to do.  As experts in palliative and end of life care, we recognise that the part care and nursing home staff play in the support of residents as they approach the end of life is incredibly important. This training will hopefully give them tools and knowledge to help ensure that the people they are caring for receive the very best possible support, and that those around them can also be prepared.  At the hospice, we’re committed to improving palliative and end of life care across Greater Manchester and beyond.  We know the difference holistic, collaborative care has on people’s experiences, and we also advocate conversations to ensure that an individual’s wishes can be listened to and hopefully delivered.


Rachel McMillan, Chief Executive of St Ann’s Hospice

Rachel added: “There’s always such a huge importance placed on how people are born, but people’s experience at the end of their life is just as important.  

“When thinking about end of life care, I always think about how I’d want one of my own loved ones to be treated, and that really motivates me to ensure we can carry on providing world-class care, whilst also sharing that specialist knowledge with others in the health and social care community.” 

To find out more, or to book a place on the free training session, visit www.sah.org.uk/community-training, email Siobhan Kenyon at skenyon@sah.org.uk or call 0161 498 3645. 

Care Home Training

Get more information about the training and watch a short animation about how to recognise dying on our training page.

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