Marie Curie Archives - The Stray Ferret

Hospital trust appeals for volunteers for end-of-life serviceHarrogate boutique hosts fashion show for Marie Curie‘I never tire of seeing families look after their own well’: Senior nurse on 25 years at Marie Curie

As a senior nurse at Marie Curie in North Yorkshire, Susan Ebbage is responsible for supporting both the charity’s staff and patients.

Ms Ebbage allocates nurses to patients after receiving daily updates on their health.

The nurses then visit the patient’s home, introduce themselves to the family and care for their loved one overnight, usually from 10pm to 7am.

Ms Ebbage, who works regularly across the Harrogate district, said:

“This allows the families to have some rest. Patients are reassured by their presence and family members are able to go to sleep. It’s an incredibly emotional time and therefore you can’t put a price on a night’s sleep.

“A lot of the families, particularly in Harrogate, live abroad and that can be horrible for them. It’s about identifying situations like this and trying to give them support where we can.”

Twenty five years

Ms Ebbage has been working in her current role for around eight years and has been with Marie Curie for 25 years.

She lives in the Yorkshire Dales, and while her role is often administrative, she still visits patients in the area when she is needed.

She said:

“I trained at the Leeds General Infirmary (LGI) and was a community midwife. I always loved patient care. I love being able to support them and helping them be able to become independent and regain control. These are all things as human beings we dread being taken away from us.

“If people are dying or ill, I like being able to take good care of them so they don’t feel like a burden.”

Ms Ebbage said a highlight of her Job was working with families who clearly love the person they are looking after.

But she added that there were also difficult issues that had to be dealt with.

‘Sorrows, sadness and regrets’

She said:

“I never tire of seeing families care for their own well. I get upset when I see families who aren’t interested. But you have to try and understand what has gone on. You listen to sorrows, sadness and regrets.

“We talk to people who tell us quite dark things at times. We have to ask them what to do with that. That might involve getting a minister to go and see them.

“We also have to keep an eye out for safeguarding. It’s not just about abuse or cruelty. Some are difficult to spot straight away. We have to make a case and follow that through.”

Ms Ebbage said the work of Marie Curie was really important.

She added:

“We have struggled like may other charities over the last two years. The nurses have been outstanding. Up to 300 nurses go out seven nights a week across the country.”

Co-ordinated approach

Ms Ebbage explained that the charity worked in conjunction with Saint Michael’s Hospice in the Harrogate area. They have meetings three times a week and share patients. Marie Curie also works with services and charities including Harrogate end of life co-ordination, NHS Continuing Healthcare and Macmillan Cancer Support.

She said:

“We have a co-ordinated approach to care in the Harrogate district. It’s really important and we have got that down to a fine T. In Harrogate there are a lot of care providers. This ensures people get the most appropriate care they need and we are not wasting resources.

Fundraiser

The Marie Curie Brain Game is returning to Yorkshire for a fourth time on Thursday, January 26 and for the first time in Harrogate in the newly refurbished Majestic Hotel & Spa.

Guests will be treated to a drinks reception before enjoying a gourmet three-course dinner. The celebrity-hosted quiz will run throughout the evening and guests will also have the opportunity to bid for exclusive lots in the live and silent auctions, and win prizes in the grand raffle.

This black-tie event invites companies from across Yorkshire to come and enjoy an evening of brain-teasing entertainment and battle it out in the ultimate corporate quiz to be crowned Yorkshire Brain Game champions.

To book a table, click here.

Royal Hall Proms returns to Harrogate next month

A Last Night of the Proms charity concert at Harrogate’s Royal Hall next month will pay tribute to the Queen and celebrate the new King.

The concert, which will feature the world famous Grimethorpe Colliery Band and acclaimed violinist Kate Chruscicka, will take place on October 7.

The event is being organised by the Harrogate fundraising team at end of life care charity Marie Curie following the success of the first proms in 2019, which raised more than £20,000.

Royal Hall Proms

The group is now hoping to recreate “the magic” of the event following a break as result of the pandemic.

Chair of the group, David Beswick, said:

“The team are determined to ensure the concert will deliver a ‘last night concert’ to remember.

“We know the Queen was a music lover and at major ceremonial and celebratory events, the sound of brass and marching band music was a fundamental component.

“We’re delighted to have Grimethorpe Colliery Band at the event. They are the most famous name in the world of brass band music. They will lead the celebration of the Queen’s life, and wish our new monarch, King Charles III, a long and successful reign.”

Before his accession to the throne, King Charles was a patron of Marie Curie.

Mr Beswick added:

“He has opened hospices and hosted many fundraising events for the charity, including joining people across the UK as part of our National Day of Reflection.

“For many of us, it will be our first opportunity to join in the singing of God Save our Gracious King.”

The event starts at 7pm and will feature classic Last Night of the Proms staples, such as Royal Britannia and Jerusalem.

Last Night of the Proms Marie Curie

Senior community fundraiser Gemma Hewitt said:

“I’m thrilled to have the proms event back after such a difficult time for everyone over the past two years.

“Now with the sad death of the Queen, this hopefully will bring us all together to celebrate her, and our wonderful community spirit – with singing and flag waving, you will be sure to leave with a smile on your face.”

All money raised from the event will support Marie Curie, which provides nursing and hospice care for people with any terminal illness.

Tickets start from £20, and can be booked from the Royal Hall website, in person or on the phone on 01423 502116.

Harrogate fundraiser’s decade of collecting for Marie Curie after help with father’s care

A Harrogate fundraiser has dedicated the past decade collecting for Marie Curie after the charity’s nurses helped her to care for her father.

When her dad was diagnosed with cancer 11 years ago, Tracey D’Alessandro-Rixon was bringing up three small children, aged five months, seven and nine.

Marie Curie’s nurses stepped in and supported her during evenings, which allowed her time to look after her young family and get some rest.

She said:

“I had very young kids. My husband worked away and they gave me a lot of support on evenings so I could get some sleep.

“Dad had dementia and would want to play football at 10pm at night. The nurses were just amazing. One of them used to make me a cake each week as well.

“Marie Curie nurses are an amazing breed.”

Ms D’Alessandro-Rixon is now a registered volunteer for Marie Curie and member of the Harrogate fundraising group.

Since her father’s death, both she and her children have helped to raise thousands for the charity.

She said:

“My children used to do daffodil weeks with me and have continued to do it for quite a few years. Especially my son, because it is his way of doing his thing for his granddad. It left quite a hole in his life when his granddad died. He wanted to help others to get some help. He likes to do it every year.”

Ms D’Alessandro-Rixon said Marie Curie provided a very important service.

She said:

“I couldn’t have looked after my dad like I did if I hadn’t had that help. As he had Alzheimer’s, for me it was the wrong thing to stick him in respite.

“Because of their help, I was able to keep him at home which was really important for my dad. It was a place where he felt happy.”

Fundraiser

The Marie Curie Brain Game is returning to Yorkshire for a fourth time on Thursday, January 26 and for the first time in Harrogate in the newly refurbished Majestic Hotel & Spa.

To book a table, click here.

Former nurse who helped raise millions for Marie Curie remains passionate about charity after 25 years

Twenty-five years ago Christine Hamilton-Stewart MBE got a call from Marie Curie asking her if she would lead a fundraising drive to build a hospice in Bradford.

At the time, the former nurse was helping to care for her sister-in-law who was dying from liver cancer.

As a result, she gained knowledge of what was available in the palliative care sector, particularly to patients who wanted to die at home. Marie Curie was the main supplier of this service.

Mrs Hamilton-Stewart, who lives in South Stainley, between Harrogate and Ripon, told the Stray Ferret:

“The fact I had trained as a nurse and had experience of caring for end-of-life patients really meant that I could help, not only my sister-in-law, but various other family members.

“So Marie Curie was looking for someone to lead a capital appeal to build this hospice in Bradford, and I chaired that appeal.”

Raising £3.5 million

And Mrs Hamilton-Stewart was clearly the right person for the job, as she helped to raise an incredible £3.5 million in just 18 months.

She recalled:

“At the time it was a surprise to everybody, including me.”

Mrs Hamilton-Stewart is now a patron and vice-president of Marie Curie and continues to dedicate her time to raising vital funds for the charity.

In 2011 she was awarded an MBE for her services to Marie Curie. The organisation is the largest charitable funder of research into better ways to care for and support people with terminal illness and their families.

‘We don’t prepare for death’

She said:

“I’m still here. I passionately believe that all patients and their families should have the best possible care and support at the end of their life.

“In this country, we all prepare beautifully for birth, but we don’t prepare for death.

“Patients and families who get the right support, I believe, are able to cope much better with very challenging situations. Having the capacity to volunteer for all these years has made me feel useful and I do what I can to help this fantastic organisation.”

Mrs Hamilton-Stewart praised the support of the community in Harrogate and North Yorkshire.

She said:

“We were the charity partner of the Grand Depart of the Tour de France and the recipient of Chris Blundell’s [chairman and co-founder of North Yorkshire-based Provenance Inns] charity clay day some years ago.

“The money from that enabled us to upgrade day care services, which are far-reaching.”

Marie Curie nurses in North Yorkshire are based at home, with the service for the whole region managed from the base of the Bradford Hospice.

There are currently eight registered nurses and 15 healthcare assistants in the county.

During the 2020/2021 period, there were 60 patients and 334 visits, equating to approximately 3,005 hours.

It costs £20,000 to hire a Marie Curie nurse for a year.

Fundraising is therefore vital in supporting these services.

‘It’s a fantastic organisation to support’

Mrs Hamilton-Stewart said:

“People are very supportive in Harrogate. We have two exciting events coming up in the town.

“The Yorkshire Brain Game will take place at the Harrogate Majestic Hotel on September 15 and there will also be a Last Night of the Proms concert at the Royal Hall on October 7, organised by the Harrogate support group.

“The pandemic devastated community fundraising, but we are so pleased to see our volunteers leap back into action. More are always welcome – to get involved, you can visit the Marie Curie website. It’s a fantastic organisation to support.”

After 25 years, Mrs Hamilton-Stewart said she has no intention of hanging up her fundraising hat just yet.

She added:

“Having the capacity to work closely with fundraising teams and medical director Sarah Holmes, we have so many exciting plans to improve our services. I’m excited to push on with our efforts to keep the funding going.”

Fundraiser

The Marie Curie Brain Game is returning to Yorkshire for a fourth time on Thursday, January 26 and for the first time in Harrogate in the newly refurbished Majestic Hotel & Spa.

Guests will be treated to a drinks reception before enjoying a gourmet three-course dinner.

Mrs Hamilton-Stewart revealed that Downton Abbey actor Jim Carter will be the main host of the evening, with the food and drink category hosted by Leeds Michelin star Leeds chef, Michael O’Hare.

The celebrity-hosted quiz will run throughout the evening and guests will also have the opportunity to bid for exclusive lots in the live and silent auctions, and win prizes in the grand raffle.

To book one of the remaining tables, click here.

‘Everybody matters’: Marie Curie’s UK medical director on why she has the ‘best job in the world’

When Dr Sarah Holmes was on a hospital ward round and it became clear a long-term patient was dying, a consultant said they didn’t need to see her anymore.

“Outraged” at this, Dr Holmes, who had only recently qualified, snuck away and went to see her.

It was at this moment she realised she wanted to pursue a career in palliative medicine.

Now, just over 20 years later, she is a consultant in this field and is the medical director of Marie Curie Hospice Bradford, where she has worked since 2007.

In July 2020, she became UK medical director for Marie Curie, and combines this role with her ongoing clinical work in the hospice.

‘There is loads we can do to make life better’

Dr Holmes, who is set to move to Harrogate in the coming weeks, told the Stray Ferret:

“I just really wanted to make sure that people are looked after right until the end of their lives, not just if an illness is fixable.

“Even if the illness can’t be cured, there is loads that we can do to make life better. From working at Marie Curie for so many years, I see that every day.”

Marie Curie is the UK’s leading end of life charity. It provides frontline nursing and hospice care, a free support line and a wealth of information and support on all aspects of dying, death and bereavement.

Marie Curie Bradford Hospice.

Describing the work of Marie Curie, Dr Holmes explained that the team looked after anyone with a life-limiting illness.

She explained:

“A lot of people think we just look after people with cancer, but it can be any life-limiting illness. So I see lots of people with motor neurone disease or Parkinson’s disease or lung conditions. All sorts of conditions really.

“When you tell people you work with people who have got life-limiting illnesses, they say ‘oh gosh that must be really depressing’. But actually, it’s just an amazing job. It’s the best job in the world.

“It’s all about life and living and getting the most out of life.”

Dr Holmes said there were obviously sad moments, as they were looking after people who were dying.

However, she said there was an enormous sense of satisfaction to know that you had supported a person to die peacefully and comfortably.

She added:

“You also make a difference to the family afterwards as well. We are here to look after them and make sure they get all the support that they need.

“People are amazing. They let us into their lives at points that are really difficult. It’s just an incredible privilege what they share with us.

“I feel really lucky to be doing this job.”

Nursing service

Dr Holmes said while the Bradford hospice supported that particular population, there was a nursing service in North Yorkshire made up of qualified nurses and healthcare assistants.

She said:

“In the Harrogate area, if someone was at home and dying, one of our healthcare assistants or nurses would go and be with them overnight.

“It gives the family a chance to get some rest because sometimes it can be quite hard work looking after someone all the time at home. So it allows the family members to get some sleep and be confident that their loved one is being looked after.”

Dr Holmes said the work of Marie Curie was vital.

She said:

“I think it is really important actually. Just looking after people at the end of life is really important.

“Whatever advances we have in medical science, we are all going to die at some point. We get care from before we are born, but actually I think sometimes not everybody gets the care at the end of their life that they should get.

“We feel at Marie Curie that we have got a really important role to raise awareness of the importance of that.

“Everybody matters and everybody should be able to get the care and support that they need right up until the end.”

Fundraiser

The Marie Curie Brain Game is returning to Yorkshire for a fourth time on Thursday, January 26 and for the first time in Harrogate in the newly refurbished Majestic Hotel & Spa.

To book a table, click here.

Almost 200 people in Harrogate district die in poverty each year

Almost 200 people in the Harrogate district die in poverty each year, according to new research by end-of-life charity Marie Curie.

Marie Curie revealed the ‘shocking’ statistics in a new report this week based on research from Loughborough University.

The report said that of 7,300 people in Yorkshire who die in poverty each year, 186 are from the Harrogate district.

Marie Curie said the benefits system failed to protect many working age people from falling below the poverty line.

It called for terminally ill people to be eligible for early access to the state pension and to receive other financial support.

Dr Sarah Holmes, medical director at the Marie Curie Hospice in Bradford, said:

“No one wants to imagine spending the last months of their life shivering in a cold home, struggling to feed themselves, their children, and burdened with the anxiety of falling into debt.

“But for over 7,300 people a year in Yorkshire that is their reality. It’s a far cry from the end of life that we’d all hope for.

“We are staggered to see the scale of poverty among dying people. Simply put, it is shocking.

“It is clear that the working age benefits system is failing to prevent dying people from falling into poverty.”

Juliet Stone, from the Centre for Research in Social Policy at Loughborough University, said:

“Our research, for the first time, not only tells us how many people die in poverty but shines a light on who these people are, where they live in the UK and the triggers, such as terminal illness, which push them below the poverty line.

“Although we expected to find an increased risk of poverty at the end of life, we were shocked to discover the extent to which this is happening across the UK.”

Marie Curie’s report, Dying in Poverty: Examining poverty at the end of life in the UK, also shows how women and people from minority ethnic groups are particularly vulnerable to poverty at the end of life.

Twenty five years

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‘Sorrows, sadness and regrets’

Co-ordinated approach

Fundraiser

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Fundraiser

Raising £3.5 million

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‘We don’t prepare for death’

‘It’s a fantastic organisation to support’

Fundraiser

‘There is loads we can do to make life better’

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Nursing service

Fundraiser

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