Pictured are (from left) Hospice Head of Nursing Trisha Castanheira, Community Nurse Janet James, MP Steve McCabe and Hospice Chief Executive Tina Swani
DVD Aims to Ease New Patients’ Fears
Nov 2, 2010
Prospective patients at Birmingham St Mary’s are having fears about receiving hospice care allayed thanks to a reassuring new DVD.
The 13-minute film gives a patient’s perspective on life at the Selly Park-based Hospice, which provides vital palliative care to people with life-limiting illnesses across Birmingham and Sandwell.
The DVD was inspired by patients who said their initial fear and anxiety over coming into hospice care had turned out to be unfounded. On arriving at the Hospice they had instead found fellowship, support and fun.
With a voice over by BBC Midlands Today’s Nick Owen, the film has been issued to GPs, district nurses, consultants and clinical nurse specialists to give to people who are in the process of being referred to Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice.
The Hospice’s Head of Nursing Services Trisha Castanheira explained how the film came about: “At our monthly patients’ forum, in which patients get to discuss Hospice issues with staff, one of the constant themes that came out was how patients felt initially about being referred to the Hospice. Many said they were fearful and anxious but the reality once they had been referred was so very different,” Trisha said.
She added: “The forum felt it would be good for patients to be able to reassure prospective patients during the referral stage and someone came up with the idea to make a DVD to give to hospital and community staff to show patients what the hospice could offer.
“Bravely, many of those forum members who were going through great difficulties put themselves forward to be interviewed with the backing of their families. It was very touching to see these people making such a fantastic contribution to the Hospice and others who will come after them.”
The patients featured in the DVD movingly explain how the Hospice has transformed their lives through its wide variety of services, from symptom management and complementary therapies to support at home.
The film was launched at the Hospice on Friday, October 22, with a special viewing by GPs and community nurses. Guest of honour Selly Oak MP Steve McCabe also attended.
Speaking after the film, he said: “It was a real privilege to be invited to see this film. Some of the messages that came out from the patients featured was very powerful, I found myself very moved.
“There’s some great work being done at Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice and I hope that the film is able to put people’s minds at ease when they are facing the difficult situation of coping with a terminal illness.”
To view the film online go to: www.youtube.com/StMaryshospice.
Since its launch in 1979, Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice has cared for tens of thousands of people with life-limiting illnesses, such as cancer, motor neurone disease and MS.
With around 52 percent of the Hospice’s budget reliant on public goodwill, community fundraising is crucial to ensuring its highly specialised services can continue to be offered to the people of Birmingham and Sandwell.
In addition to a 25-bed Inpatient Unit, Birmingham St Mary’s boasts a 20-place Day Hospice and provides community care to people who wish to stay in their own homes.
The Hospice also supports relatives with bereavement preparation, physiotherapy tuition and counselling in addition to many other services.
Annual running costs stand at £6.3 million, with around £1 million being raised in the Hospice’s shops and £2.7 million via fundraising. The remainder comes from the NHS.
Birmingham St Mary’s nurses, often referred to by patients and relatives as ‘angels’, are renowned for going that extra mile to ensure people with terminal illnesses enjoy the best possible quality of life.
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