Medicash Foundation,  who support a variety of projects from community healthcare projects to international conservation efforts has very generously awarded a grant to St St John’s Hospice for the third time! This means the Medicash Foundation have kindly granted a total of £19,545.

This particular grant of £6,845 has been awarded for Hospice at Home fuel costs to support St John’s work in patients’ homes. This  grant is vital as it will be used to support the transport costs of our Community Nursing and Hospice at Home teams travelling to give palliative and end-of-life care to patients in their own homes 365 days a year, 7 days a week.

Maddy Bass, Director of Nursing and Quality said,

“Approximately 80% of patients prefer to die in their own homes, in familiar surroundings, with their loved ones. This means that the St John’s Community Teams are busier and busier each year. They travel from Grasmere to Garstang, Morecambe to Sedbergh in all weathers so you can imagine the impact of the fuel costs on a small charity like St John’s Hospice. To receive this grant means such a lot to the St John’s team and ultimately the patients and families we all care for, so a big ‘thank you’ to the Medicash Foundation for supporting this vital care.”

E-Prescribing success continues with a specialist e-prescribing drug trolley 

The St John’s Hospice new e-prescription system is now live and is supported by generous funding from The Hospital Saturday Fund. The move from paper prescriptions to online electronic chart was a big change for the team and one they have all worked hard to train for. This new system needed investment in a special e-prescribing trolley to fully support it. 

Why does a ‘simple’ trolley make such a difference? Like many things in life – something may look ‘simple’ but in reality, it isn’t! A specialist trolley needs to hold the computer for e-prescribing so requires a large surface area, it also needs to be able to hold medicines securely yet ensuring they can be accessed. In addition, the trolley needs to be easily manoeuvred around patient beds and visitors without causing disruption and being obtrusive. The inpatient ward team carried out considerable research to find the right trolley to work for the team, the patients and their families.

Essentially, this trolley has helped St John’s move to a much safer system of prescribing and dispensing all medications to patient through electronic-prescribing. Also, as a non-paper-based system, it is safer and more environmentally friendly.

The trolley is absolutely integral to the success of this fundamental new way of delivering medications to patients on the ward. A big thank you to the Hospital Saturday Fund for the funding for this trolley – it is working beautifully in its support of this new way of delivering medications to patients.

Emma Dixon, Head of In-patient Services 

As part of the national ‘This is Hospice Care’ campaign we are encouraging supporters to protect the future of hospice care through a gift in their Will.

This is because St John’s Hospice receives just 25% of its funding from the NHS, the remaining 75% comes from people like you in the community. Currently 1 in 4 patients treated by St John’s Hospice are cared for through funds from gifts in Wills.

But what exactly is a Will, why is important to have one and how do you go about sorting one?

Listen into this episode of our Hospice Podcast: ‘Realities of Making a Will’ for an easy to understand guide to your Wills questions with Liz Edmundson, our Wills and Legacies Relationship Manager. Click the play button the box below to listen now.

The Hospice Podcast is available wherever you listen to podcasts. Our amazing staff talk about the brilliant work they do throughout the hospice and out in the community.

Listen into the full series on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, PodBean, Amazon Music and PlayerFM.

Would you like to know more about Wills and leaving a gift in your Will? Visit our Wills Page for lots of useful information.

And if you would like to speak to Liz about Wills and Gifts, please use the contact form below:

Wills Enquiry Form

St John’s Hospice is proud to be one of 143 hospices taking part in the national “This is Hospice Care” campaign. The campaign aims to raise awareness of the vital role hospices play in communities and to answer some of the myths about hospice care.

The national campaign, launched 17 February, is capturing hearts and minds through a powerful TV advert based on real life hospice stories. The goal is to encourage people to consider leaving a gift in their Will to support their local hospice, ensuring that these essential services can continue to provide these compassionate and specialist services now and for future generations.

Sue McGraw, our chief executive said;

“We are excited to be part of this campaign that highlights the critical work we do and the lasting impact that gifts in Wills have on our ability to continue providing St Johns care in the Hospice and in patients’ homes.

“Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, legacy giving cares for one in four of our patients across the area. St John’s provides end of life and palliative care from Grasmere and Kendal down to Garstang, and everywhere between Morecambe and Sedbergh, that’s 500 square miles of St John’s care 24/7, 365 days a year for nearly 40 years.

“Although our care is freely given, it is not without cost. Unlike the NHS we are not fully state funded. Currently the local NHS funds 25% of our care, so we rely heavily on charitable donations for the remaining 75%, of which a vital proportion comes from gifts in Wills.”

Maddy Bass, our Director of Nursing and Quality said;

“St John’s Hospice touches the lives of thousands of people every year; the patients we care for, their families and friends and the wider community. St John’s care provides nursing and medical care, therapies, social worker advice, bereavement and grief support. Over 80% of the patients we care for are in your neighbourhood, in their own homes, with the advice of the Clinical Nurse Specialist team, the Hospice at Home team, respite visits and night sits.

“Our aim is to celebrate the lives of our patients and provide pain and symptom management. We make every moment matter; it’s the visits from patients’ pets whether a dog or a horse, the weddings we arrange, the special anniversary occasions, the memory boxes we help create and the letters we help patients write. As the campaign says, our hospice care is everything you’d expect and everything you wouldn’t.”

By 2040 the number of annual deaths in the UK is expected to rise by 130,000, with 90% from natural causes. These are the people who need hospice care. So, St John’s Hospice is encouraging local residents to consider the profound impact that a gift in their Will can have.

To find out how you can support St John’s Hospice through your Will or for more information on Wills please visit www.sjhospice.org.uk/wills or contact [email protected].

St John’s is delighted to have received £700 from the Springfields Employees’ Medical Research & Charity Trust Fund to purchase an overbed table for use on our Inpatient Ward.

A big thank you to Springfields and their employees for their generous contribution. The overbed table will be very useful for patients who remain in bed, making their experience more comfortable.

Our annual newsletter lets you catch up with St John’s Hospice, with stories from patients and their families and features from team members. It gives you an insight into the Care, Compassion and Support we provide 365 days a year.

Please click tap the button to download a pdf of this year’s newsletter. If you would like a physical copy, you can still collect one from St John’s or from one of our many Shops throughout the community.

If you would like to receive a copy of our newsletter next year as well as information on our other promotions please fill out our Contact Preferences form (you can always change your mind later):

Contact Preference Form:

So, the trekkers begin their journey home. After a leisurely breakfast, the group enjoy a mooch around the area. Some visit Agra fort, others opt for a visit to the posh hotel around the corner for coffee and the rooftop terrace for some last rays of the sun. The weather will be very different back home!

We climb on the bus for the last journey- after some frantic last minute gift buying with some street sellers- and leave at 1pm, taking the same toll roads back to Delhi.

As we approach Delhi the traffic gets heavier and busier. As you can guess, the horns are being used as well as ever!

We have seen some unusual travel habits in India, which are obviously normal in their culture due to less rules than in the UK.
On scooters there are usually 3 people and at times, a whole family. They don’t all have helmets. Tuk tuks use the motorway. There is no slow lane- drivers simply move between lanes, indicating how by their horn. A truck moving a load of hay had a man laid on top of it in transit. We again see the street dogs and cows.

All checked in and on the plane home…..

The overnight train arrives in Delhi. The hustle and bustle is a bit of a shock after the quiet night train!

Our guides find us porters to take our bags to the bus (£1.50 each!- well worth it as our bags are heavy and there is a way to walk!)

We climb on the bus and the driver takes us onto the toll roads. Not much traffic here, so a quieter journey- although the driver likes to use his horn! We stop at a motorway service station. The coffee ordering is different and more complicated! Order your drink and pay, get given a receipt. Take receipt to another man on the coffee machine who makes it. Then another man brings it to you.

We carry on, driving by countryside- small farms, fields, trees, and of course- cows! The farming is much more hands on and. It mechanised. Hand held tools are often used for digging and earth prep. If there is a tractor it’s old.

The land is flat- no hills or mountains like on the trek. But there are lots of native trees and bushes by the roadside and throughout the fields. It’s very hazy- probably smog caused by pollution and dust. But it’s warmer than the trek days.

We arrive at our accommodation- it’s beautiful! Cool and clean, the toilets have seats and loo paper! We eat a brunch, then explore for a few hours before heading off for the Taj Mahal.

It’s the second of a 3-day religious festival so the monument is much busier than usual. We enjoy a couple of hours here.

It was commissioned in 1631 by the fifth Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan (r. 1628–1658) to house the tomb of his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal; it also houses the tomb of Shah Jahan himself.

It is breathtaking – it took 20,000 men 22 years to complete.

We then had a dinner of several curries and rice and a local restaurant. We retire early to bed, we have a long day of travelling tomorrow.

Last night, the trekkers enjoyed their celebration meal. After eating, all of them were presented with a trek Global medal, something to help them remember thjs very special experience. Maddy Bass spoke a few words based on “Trekkers’ Glory”- what did they fear before the trek, and what have they learned to help combat this fear, and others, in the future?

This morning, we have a few free hours in Dharamsala. The group split up to buy souvenirs and gifts, get lunch and generally enjoy the area and views. Some of the team even get the cable car and visit the worlds highest cricket ground where a match was taking place between Pondi and HP in the elite group B for the Ranji tournament.

As the trekkers reflect on the past few days, we learn we climbed three times the height of Snowdon – and camped at twice the height of Ben Nevis! We wait outside for the taxis to be loaded, then leave at 2pm.

The rest of the day is spent travelling- a three hour taxi ride to Parankot (very bumpy roads being constructed, and very dusty).

Driving in India is very different to the UK. It is chaotic but everyone driving knows that! There aren’t many rules, but one is to use your horn for communication! And drivers are actively encouraged to do so! How many blasts and how long they are tells other road users and pedestrians what the driver is going to do.

They also drive on the left! Driving on the left was made mandatory in the UK in 1835 and all countries part of the British Empire followed suite. The other rule is to avoid cows. Cows are sacred in the Hindi, Buddhist and Jainism faiths so they are allowed to wander, and not fenced in. They will be found on roads and walking through the streets.
They don’t move for anything!

We have dinner in Pathankot. – more tasty curries with rice and home made naans, we are driven the final 25 minutes to the train station to catch the overnight sleeper train back to Delhi. We have three minutes from arrival to departure to get everyone on, plus their bags.

As the trekkers know what’s to come, they get on quickly with bags and get to their berths quickly. All settle down quickly for some sleep. The train will arrive at 5am for our last day of our India experience.

The porters are ready with hot drinks at 6am this morning: most of the group are awake by then to watch the sun rise over the mountains. It’s a beautiful time of the day to reflect on what the challenge has meant for us all.

We pack up for the final time. The trekkers are excited- last day today, and then they will have completed their personal challenge. It’s been really tough.

After breakfast, Catherine Butterworth, Director of Income Generation, congratulates everyone for taking part in the trek, and thanks them all for what they’ve done for the hospice.

Alison Bargh, one of the Hospice Trustees who has been on the trek, then thanks the portering and guide teams and gifts them the tips the group have collected for them. The guides and porters have been absolutely brilliant, and have really made our camping as clean and comfortable as it could be. They have been attentive and kept us safe on our trek.

We start out at 8.30 am for the final time. It is all downhill. But very steep. It is rocky with some areas of loose shale. We take our time. Immediately it starts to warm up, and the trekkers enjoy some warm sunshine as they descend.

It’s tiring and we walk slowly. We can appreciate the view as we come down towards the town. We stop regularly to drink water – we need to be more hydrated than ever with the increased heat.

Our lunch stop is at the Shiva cafe at the Bhagsu Waterfalls. We finally feel as if are back in civilisation. There are proper toilets!

We rest and have lunch, then carry on with the last 15 minute walk to the hotel.

Then finally the trek is finished! The group has completed their challenge! We share hugs and tears, and a real sense of achievement. It’s been an amazing 5 days- wild camping, huge amounts of up and downhill trekking, and some fantastic food from our porters.

The group then go to their hotel rooms for a warm shower and to change, and rest.

Ready for our celebratory evening meal! We haven’t been told much about out it, just meet at 6.30pm. It’s very strange seeing us all back in everyday clothing, without backpacks and walking boots!

We head off in taxis to a fusion restaurant. The food is amazing, lots of dishes to try. It’s a real celebration of achievement and development for us all.

Today we are reaching the highest altitude of the trek. We get up early, have a breakfast of pancakes, toast and cereals. Before we set off Phil, of our trekkers, leads us in a stretching routine. Our muscles are tired and sore from the last 3 days, so there are a few groans but again it helps to get the blood flowing.

The landscape is beautiful. Our campsite sits under three Himalayan peaks. It’s where nature remains in control and cannot be tamed. It’s wild and rugged. Roads cannot be built up here, travel is on foot or by mule, and the only sounds are the local crows and our transport mules braying!

As we are returning to the same campsite tonight we don’t have to pack up like on previous days. It puts us all in a more positive mood!

We set off, it’s cool but we quickly warm up as we head upwards. Today we have a 500m ascent. It’s rocky and the steps are deep, often 30-45cm which is hard work at altitude with tired muscles. But as usual the trekkers encourage each other over the next 5 hours. We stop regularly for water, and rests.

We stop at a shrine in the way and our local guides bless us to help us on our way.

We continue upwards, viewing spectacular scenery. Moon peak is the highest peak here.

We eventually reach the top at 1pm. Here we leave prayer flags and Maddy Bass, our Director of Nursing says a few words about celebrating the lives of those who we have loved and lost. It’s an emotional time for everyone.

This is a temple the locals often visit, and there is space to sleep over next to it. We move back down. Everyone is quiet and contemplative. We reach the Snow Line Cafe and stop for lunch.

As we are about to leave to descend the mist rolls in and temperature drops. We descend slowly.

And always time to laugh!

After two hours we arrive back in camp, chatty and light-hearted. It’s been a cathartic experience today.

The porters again serve hot drinks and freshly made pakoras which are delicious! The temperature drops quickly in the evenings, we need to layer up. The sunset is beautiful over the mountains.

Our dinner is exceptional- pasta, noodles, pizza, chips….and some veg!

Then two beautiful celebratory cakes which the team made for us all. We are all really touched.

After another campfire under the moon, we retire to rest before our final day. It’s been amazing and everyone is so upbeat.

We have all fallen into morning our routine quickly- up and dress, pack up kit, have breakfast.

Today Sam, one of our trekkers, leads us in a warm up. There are a few groans as we all try to do squats and stretch some very tired bodies but it really helps and gets the blood moving!

We set off at 8.30 with a slow climb through the village. After a few minutes we commence a hard climb for 90 minutes to a chai tea shop with views of the valley and surrounding area.

On we move, climbing but not as steeply until the join the Triund trail.

We climb up a rocky unevenly stepped path which becomes increasingly steeper. The route is uneven, and we start to pass other people along his popular part of the Dalai Lama trail.

We stop for lunch at the Magic View Cafe which claims to the the oldest chai tea shop! The views are spectacular and we rest, with our pre-packed lunch, enjoying more chai tea or coke.

After half an hour we continue, passing more people, some from England who we share why we are here with. We pass some locals as well.

The path is steep, and it’s a struggle for most of us. Two long days of tough walking then starting to climb into altitude, has made it feel even harder. As always, the trekkers just keep on giving- hugs, kind and encouraging words and laughs help us all press on.

Finally we reach the top at 5pm. We are jubilant, and so excited. But the mist is rolling in and it will be dark in an hour. So we walk into camp. It’s much colder. We immediately start to put on extra layers, then set up camp. We are all getting good at this now!

We are in time for the sunset which is absolutely breath-taking.

After another tasty meal cooked by our porters, we enjoy a camp fire before retiring to bed.