OUR HOSPICES do incredible work for people in Worcester and I’ve very much enjoyed getting to know them and seeing some of their amazing facilities during my time as MP.
St Richards was a place I had heard about all my life as my father was one of its early patrons and when I first visited as a candidate some 18 years ago, I expected to find a place where people go to die sad or even depressing but I was impressed at what a positive and inspiring place it was.
I was not to know at the time, but my family went on to benefit from the amazing care and compassion of the team there when my father spent his last few days in the hospice not long after I became Worcester’s MP.
Like so many Worcestershire families we were given a haven of peace and tranquillity to come together, to say goodbye in and later to mourn.
The nurses could not have been more supportive, and the level of stress compared to the time that my father had spent in hospitals was entirely different.
Since then, I have always wanted to do what I can to say thank you, whether that was through raising questions in Parliament on behalf of hospices or raising funds through sponsored walks.
Having walked the Worcestershire Way a couple of times, it was a real pleasure to join volunteers this weekend to walk the length of the Malvern hills and play a small part in raising just over £19,000 to support the hospice.
Thanks to all those who sponsored and took part in this.
As it happens last week was Dying Matters Awareness Week 2023, an opportunity to talk about the importance of dying well and to recognise the incredible work of hospice teams across the country that support people and their families.
We are so fortunate to have not one but two incredible hospices in Worcester – St Richard’s for adults and Acorns for children. Both rely on the generosity of local donors to keep doing their valuable work.
I recently caught up with the new Chief Executive of Acorns Children’s Hospice, Trevor Johnson, to discuss their vital work to provide the best level of care for children life limiting or life-threatening conditions.
I support Acorns fully as they help children and families create lasting memories together.
Although the nature of their work can seem incredibly sad, it is always a happy and uplifting place to visit as they have created so many special places and experiences for children to enjoy.
It is inspiring to see the work that local volunteers and businesses have done to improve their gardens & make the childrens’ hospice into an even more special place.
I also attended an event in Westminster hosted by Tom Pursglove MP, Minster for Disabled People, to discuss what more can be done to provide quicker access to benefits to help people nearing the end of life.
Clearly it is crucial that people are not left waiting for support when it needs to be delivered swiftly, and I am pleased to see the introduction of the Special Rules for End of Life by the Department for Work and Pensions, something that I know hospices and other charities such as Macmillan have long campaigned for.
Worcester’s MP Robin Walker writes for the Observer…
