Andrew Stephenson MP pays a visit to Pendleside Hospice

This year, Pendle MP, Andrew Stephenson took a trip to Pendleside Hospice to shadow a member of staff.

Mr Stephenson started the day accompanying hospice at home auxiliary nurse, Natasha Marsden, on a patient visit to see Miriam Holgate.

Miriam receives weekly care support visits from the hospice to check on her health and wellbeing, and to ensure Miriam has everything she needs.

Following that, Mr Stephenson met with one of Pendleside’s long-standing volunteers, Ronnie Redhead, to deliver lunch-time meals to customers throughout Pendle, as part of the hospice’s Meals on Wheels service.

Andrew Stephenson MP with some of the residents and staff (Image: Pendleside Hospice)

The Pendle MP was also fortunate to be able to sample Pendleside Hospice’s catering, as he enjoyed lunch with staff and volunteers in the diner, before shadowing assistant practitioner, Lisa Thompson, for the Breathe Peer Support Group.

He also shadowed community engagement officer, Leah Hooper, and head of events, Sammi Graham, who were busy putting all the final touches together for their next big community fundraising event, The Pendleside Pumpkin Trail.

Lastly, Mr Stephenson was shown around Pendleside Hospice’s donation centre by retail team leader, David Austin and retail coordinator, Gemma Hopkinson.

Organised by Hospice UK, Hospice Care Week officially runs from October 9-15, with MPs across the country visiting their local hospice both in the run up to the week and after.

This year, Hospice Care Week’s ‘we are hospice care’ theme sheds light on the people who make up a hospice, celebrating the breadth, diversity and excellence of the hospice workforce.

More than 40,000 people work in charitable hospices across the UK, working to reduce pressure on the NHS, and provide training and support for health care workers.

Andrew Stephenson MP and Natasha Marsden (Image: Pendleside Hospice)

It is a challenging time for hospices, and the need for hospice care is growing. The cost of living crisis has seen their costs soar, making fundraising for the majority of their income increasingly challenging. At the same time, recruiting, retaining, and paying their dedicated staff a fair wage has never been tougher.

Helen McVey, chief executive of Pendleside Hospice said: “It was lovely to share with Mr Stephenson the fantastic work our team of dedicated staff and volunteers do at Pendleside to support our patients, their families and carers, but also share the challenges both Pendleside and other hospices across the UK face.

“Particularly increased demand on services and the limited statutory funding hospices receive and their heavy reliance on the support of local communities to fund the services.

“With hospices across the UK caring for around 300,000 people each year it is important that Pendleside and other hospices have the support of their local MP’s in ensuring sustainable hospice care for the future.”

Volunteer Meals on Wheels Driver, Ronnie Redhead with Andrew Stephenson MP (Image: Pendleside Hospice)

Mr Stephenson added: “It’s been a really insightful experience visiting Pendleside Hospice and to witness first-hand the incredible work Pendleside do.

“I have always been a huge supporter of the hospice and interacting with staff, volunteers, patients and service users has enabled me to learn much more about what our local hospice offers and the invaluable support they provide for our Burnley and Pendle communities.”

Mr Stephenson also attended a leaders lunch event organised by Pendleside as part of their 35th birthday celebrations, whereby business people and leaders from Burnley and Pendle, who have supported Pendleside over the years, came together to celebrate the hospice’s anniversary.