CHARITY
A place to live , not die – outpatient Christine is full of praise for Teesside Hospice .
HELP YOUR HOSPICE
Donations needed more than ever as hospice celebrates 40 years of care
Teesside Hospice is helping families make memories that will last a lifetime .
This year has seen Teesside Hospice celebrate 40 years of hospice care for those diagnosed with a terminal illness , and their families .
There have been developments in their care through collaborations , such as with South Tees NHS , while the hospice team have refocused their efforts on supporting emotional wellbeing and physical healthcare .
Ensuring no one dies scared , alone or in pain is at the heart of what Teesside Hospice does . Throughout 2022 they ’ ve cared for around 3,000 local people , who ’ ve benefitted from an inpatient unit as well as wellbeing , outreach , counselling and lymphoedema services .
Christine , an outpatient in the Wellbeing Centre , said : “ People think the hospice is a place to come and die , but it ’ s not .
“ My initial thought was that this is the place I was going to die . But as soon as I arrived , everything changed . They really cared and treated me as an individual , and a doctor even hugged me and held me for so long .
“ For someone who had only been ‘ treated ’, pushed and poked for so long because of my condition , this gesture of compassion was incredible .”
Christine was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer , which she was told was incurable . “ I was finally able to sleep throughout the night for the first time in two years ,” she said , recalling her arrival at the hospice . “ When I woke up , I was pain free , everything felt surreal , and I started to improve .”
Almost two years on , Christine has
begun to manage her illness through pain control , enabling her to spend more quality time with family and friends , which has helped her create memories that will last a lifetime .
Despite the successes of their clinical services , Teesside Hospice is beginning to see the long-term impact of lockdowns on people ’ s health and wellbeing . This includes delayed diagnoses , late-stage diagnoses and the heartbreaking impact that has on people ’ s health .
Chief executive David Smith says : “ The need to care for people experiencing this sort of trauma won ’ t go away quickly . The acute phase of the pandemic might thankfully be receding , but its impact on the hospice will be here for some time to come . A terminal illness doesn ’ t stop and neither do we .”
While the hospice continues to operate in austerity and the cost-of-living crisis , the demand for hospice care remains significantly high .
Around a third of income comes from the NHS , but the hospice needs to raise almost £ 6,000 every single day to deliver the essential care it offers . In normal circumstances , this is a challenge . But right now , with rising costs for everyone , the challenge becomes greater every day .
Teesside Hospice ambassador Malcolm Knott , CEO of Middlesbrough firm ITS , says : “ For us , corporate charity support begins with a connection and develops into a relationship supported by the synergy of two organisations coming together , sharing the same beliefs and core values .”
For more than 30 years , ITS has been dedicated in supporting the local community , working closely with charitable causes and community initiatives , in which a staggering £ 180,000 has been donated .
The continuation of the charitable work ITS does hasn ’ t slowed down . The firm ’ s corporate partnership with Teesside Hospice has seen Malcolm and the ITS team show “ staggering ” support .
Financial support is a critical element needed for the continuation of the work of the hospice . ITS provides an annual corporate partnership donation of £ 5,000 and has extended its financial support by providing a £ 2,000 sponsorship donation , so that the hospice can extend its fundraising activities to the wider community , in this case the Middlesbrough 10K Run .
ITS also supports efforts to raise awareness within the community . For example , every year the firm provides sponsorship of £ 1,000 so that Teesside Hospice can produce a corporate brochure . This is a valuable marketing tool that highlights the work Teesside Hospice do and helps expand its corporate network .
This year , the hospice is facing a large financial deficit , and it needs support now more than ever .
“ We ’ re doing all that we can to work more efficiently and reduce costs ,” explains David . “ But the reality is that without corporate support and a powerful local community , Teesside Hospice wouldn ’ t be able to keep the door open and the rooms warm .”
To find out more , email annecooling @ teessidehospice . co . uk , call her on 07500 805716 , or visit teessidehospice . org .
The voice of business in the Tees region | 51