Make a donation End Of Life Care Appeal help prevent patients from dying alone donate In your busy hospitals, every day babies are born, lifesaving operations are performed and cutting-edge medical research progresses. But increasingly, more and more people also spend their final days, weeks and months on a busy clinical ward, some dying alone. Julia Hardwick, Lead Nurse, Palliative and End of Life Care and her team needs help to provide support for patients at the end of their life. Every year around 1,800 people die in your hospitals and a third of patients are in the final year of their lives. Your clinical teams deliver world-class care and pain management. But these staff members are so busy, they can’t always provide the emotional support that patients and their families desperately need. “I had to make the heartbreaking call to a patient’s brother to tell him he didn’t have long left. The brother was in tears as he was unable to get to the hospital. We all knew this patient was going to die alone,” - a Palliative Care Consultant. Sadly, this story is not rare. Your support can help fund projects that bring patients and their loved ones comfort and reassurance in the final weeks and days of their lives so no-one has to die alone in your hospitals. End of life VOLUNTEER SERVICE We're establishing an End of Life Care Volunteer Service that will provide specially trained end of life care volunteers who will provide bedside companionship and comfort to patients during their final weeks and days, including supporting those who don’t have friends or family nearby and are at high risk of dying alone. They’ll offer much-needed emotional support and comfort by reminiscing, reading aloud or simply holding patients’ hands. They'll provide respite breaks for exhausted family members to pop out to get some fresh air or simply a cup of tea, reassured that their loved one has a friendly face by their side. And they will act as advocates for patients and their families, signposting to key emotional support services, such as chaplaincy and grief counselling, but also organising practical support, such as parking permits. By referring patients to the volunteer service, staff will have more time to provide essential clinical care while having the peace of mind that dying patients will have supportive companionship from a volunteer. End of Life Care Volunteer Co-ordinator To lead and grow the End of Life Care Volunteer Service, a dedicated coordinator has been recruited. Their role is vital: they recruit, train and support volunteers, and work closely with ward teams and our specialist palliative care team to identify patients who would benefit from compassionate volunteer visits. It’s a very busy service, supporting 1,800 patients, that we desperately need to be available to patients beyond a year, supporting as many of your hospitals as possible. 760 donors giving just £50 each could fund this position for a full year, helping to bring comfort, connection and dignity to those in their final days. Will you be one of them? If you're interested in using the service or would like to find out more about volunteering, please contact the end of life care volunteer team at [email protected] A donation from you today could help prevent patients from dying alone. Can you help? Please support our appeal and help bring comfort, connection and dignity to those in their final days. or MAKE A regular DONATION On behalf of the patients who are in their final days, and their families who are going through an incredibly difficult time, Julia, University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust, and Bristol & Weston Hospitals Charity would like to say a heartfelt thank you for your support. YOUR SUPPORT WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE The End of Life Care Volunteer Service is just one way that Bristol & Weston Hospitals Charity brings moments of joy, comfort and hope to patients, families and staff across your ten hospitals. Your donation will be used wherever the need is greatest, making a real difference where it matters most. End of life training course Delivering bad news is, sadly, an unavoidable part of a doctor’s or nurse’s role. But for many, these conversations — especially around end of life care — can be incredibly distressing if they don’t feel equipped to handle them with the sensitivity and confidence they need. The end of life training course helps NHS staff with managing and delivering potentially distressing conversations with patients and their families. moments of calm for end of life patients We fund two talented musicians who bring the soothing sounds of guitar and harp to patients and their families across your hospitals. Their gentle, live music creates moments of calm and comfort on the wards. For those nearing the end of their lives, music can unlock precious memories and bring a deep sense of peace and connection. Maternity bereavement spaces Previously, these rooms were gloomy, clinical, and outdated —far from the comforting environments families need during devastating moments of pregnancy and baby loss. With your support, we’ve given them the care and attention they so desperately needed. Now, if the worst happens, families are cocooned in spaces such as the Lavender Suite, designed with tenderness and compassion to begin processing their grief. Make a donation TODAY and help patients get the dignity they deserve. MAKE A DONATION If you're interested in using the service or would like to find out more about volunteering, please contact the end of life care volunteer team at [email protected] Manage Cookie Preferences