Alan Johnson, Health Secretary, visits St Michael's
Health Minister comes to Hastings
Health Secretary Alan Johnson met staff, patients and volunteers at St Michael’s Hospice on Monday 29th September, and heard first-hand about the only hospice service in East Sussex to offer 24-hour hands-on nursing care in people’s homes.
The Hospice at Home service gives people greater choice over their care at the end of life, in line with the overall aim of the Government’s End of Life Care strategy published by the Department of Health in July.
Alan Johnson with Claremont Prep Schoolwho brought harvest goods to the Hospice.
Mr. Johnson said: “St Michael’s Hospice is a wonderful facility offering patients the type of high quality care, choice and dignity we want to see available for everyone, in line with the aims of our End of Life Care Strategy.
“Much work has been done to improve their care facilities and environment, supporting the effective personalised care provided by their team of skilled, compassionate and dedicated staff and volunteers. I congratulate everyone involved in this important work."
In an interview conducted with the Hastings Observer during his visit, the Health Secretary spoke about St Michael's Hospice-at-Home service: "This is the sort of service we want to see right throughout the country," he said.
The Secretary of Statewas greeted by Hospice chairman Julian Avery and Chief Executive, Celia Pyke-Lees and given a tour of St Michael’s Hospice by registered manager Andy Burt.
Celia Pyke-Lees, chief executive of St Michael’s Hospice said: “We are delighted to welcome the Secretary of State. The visit comes during this, the 21st anniversary year of the Hospice which was founded by Sheila Leach in 1987. It is also, fortuitously, taking place on St Michael’s Day, the feast day of the Saint from whom the Hospice takes its name.”
During the tour, Mr. Johnson saw the new reception areas refurbished by a Department of Health grant; the St Michael’s Day Therapy Unit, which helps patients to get involved in activities that they can manage, taking the focus away from their illness and met members of the Patient and Family Support team including a volunteer bereavement counsellor.
He also visited the 21st Anniversary appeal exhibition which illustrates why the Hospice needs to raise £2.5million for building work to ensure that St Michaels is secure for another 21 years.
Notes:
St Michael’s Hospice is non-denominational and welcomes patients of many different faiths or no faith.
In the Christian calendar, the 29th of September is known as the Feast of St Michael and All Angels or St Michael’s Day. St Michael, one of four archangels, came to be honoured among Christians as one who helps at the hour of death.
3. Over 600 people under the care of St Michael’s Hospice died last year. Of these, 205 died in our In-patient unit and 398 died while under the care of our Hospice at Home service.
4. It costs £5m per annum to run the Hospice and its services. St Michael’s Hospice is not wealthy and recently reported a deficit of £220,000.
5. St Michael’s provides In-patient nursing care to approximately 400 patients in 42 beds, 26 of which are devoted to acute/ palliative care.
6. St Michael’s Hospice serves a very wide catchment area of Hastings and Rother in East Sussex, with a population of 175,000 people.