CHARITY
Care – Teesside Hospice chief executive Mike Thornicroft becomes emotional when he thinks about how much the charity’ s vital work means to local families.
WORDS: SARAH WALKER
‘ A bubble of loveliness’
Teesside Hospice CEO describes care for families that wouldn’ t be possible without the support of fundraisers and volunteers
With its inviting interiors, lush gardens and friendly faces, Teesside Hospice feels like a warm hug in a cosy home from home.
It’ s a far cry from the misconception many people have of hospices – as clinical spaces where people simply go to die. In fact, the whole environment is brimming with life, as supportive staff work around the clock to help patients and their relatives make the most of every day.
Walk into one of the complementary therapy rooms and you are immersed in a lavender-filled spa environment, while the serene gardens, complete with koi carp pond, offer a sense of peace far removed from a bustling hospital ward.
There is even a sumptuous cinema room, all comfy sofas and calming colours, where couples and families can enjoy simple moments together and create lasting memories.
As they proudly show visitors around, it’ s clear staff are immensely proud of the life-changing work they do for patients and relatives, helping them continue to smile through unimaginable sadness and pain.
In short, Teesside Hospice is a magical place – something not lost on chief executive Mike Thornicroft.
Mike, despite the pressure of ensuring the hospice generates enough income to continue its vital work, still fights back tears as he recalls what it means to families.
“ I always quote the story of the wife of one of our patients, which is on a video on our website, where she talks about the support her husband got here,” he says.
“ A sister put her arm around her because she was very distraught and she described how, from that moment, she and her husband were in a‘ bubble of loveliness’ for the next two weeks.”
It’ s stories such as this that drive Mike to ensure the hospice can meet its £ 20,500-a-day running costs, with less than 30 % of funding coming from the NHS.
Last month, the hospice came to an agreement in principle with Butterwick Hospice in Stockton to merge, in order to provide people across the Tees Valley and County Durham with access to better end-of-life care and ensure long-term sustainability of services.
Amid challenging conditions on the high street, Teesside Hospice recently closed one of its charity shops.
However, it has opened a new superstore on Portrack Lane, next to Aldi, selling high-quality new and pre-loved clothing, homeware and furniture to raise vital funds.
“ We are a charity and we need to raise £ 5.5m every year through fundraising, retail, our lottery and the occasional legacy, to support over 4,000 patients and families referred to Teesside Hospice each year,” Mike says.
He adds the hospice not only supports people at the end of their lives but also those living with life-limiting conditions by providing day care, complementary therapies and support to help them live well in the community for as long as possible.
Teesside Hospice also offers bereavement support and creates spaces where people can come together and realise they are not alone in their grief or health struggles.
Sadly, demand for its services continues to far outstrip government and NHS funding.
Mike is therefore extremely grateful to the many corporate supporters who make donations or send staff on volunteering days, benefiting both the businesses involved and the hospice.
“ In the next 10 years, an additional one million people are expected to die compared to the last 10 years, and we should be building capacity to allow people to have a good death in a hospice, community setting, hospital or at home,” he says.
“ We need more investment to ensure people can die supported by people they love and while feeling they have a good quality of life in their final days.
“ We are only here because of the support of our community and local businesses, through fundraising, volunteering and the goodwill they provide to us.
“ Without it, who knows where that would leave the families we support?”
To find out more about corporate sponsorship and support at Teesside Hospice, visit teessidehospice. org
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