In Hospice Care Week 2018, North Wales Assembly Member Mark Isherwood has called on Assembly Members to show their support for their local hospice.
In a Statement in the Assembly Chamber today on Hospice Care Week, Mr Isherwood, who Chairs the Cross Party Group on Hospices and Palliative Care in the National Assembly, emphasised the vital role of hospices in Wales which each year directly care for more than 10,000 people.
He said:
“This week is Hospice Care Week, the annual week of activity to raise the profile of hospice care across the UK. The theme of Hospice Care Week this year is ‘Heart my Hospice’.
“The Cross Party Group on Hospices and Palliative Care’s recent inquiry into inequalities in access heard how limited awareness of the full range of services offered by hospices, and the stigma around talking about death and dying, can be barriers to people accessing the right care. The Group recommended that hospices across Wales should continue to raise awareness of the care they provide and the opportunities for communities to engage with their work.
“Each year, hospices in Wales directly care for more than 10,000 people with the majority – around 80 per cent being cared for in their own homes and the community.
Hospices are reliant on engagement with their communities to support their work. They provide opportunities to volunteer – as gardeners, drivers, in retail and administration – and fundraise a total of £2 million per month to sustain the delivery of hospice care in Wales.
“Hospices in Wales are asking people to demonstrate their support for their hospice by volunteering, donating or by showing they care on social media. Throughout the week, hospices in Wales are opening their doors to their wider communities to encourage greater engagement and to improve awareness of the vital work they do”.
Mr Isherwood added “I urge all members to show their support for their local hospice this Hospice Care Week by taking action – make contact and visit your hospice or reach out on social media and use the hashtag #HeartMyHospice.”
ENDS .