Pilgrims Hospices wins prestigious Joanna Mugridge Research Award
Pilgrims Hospices is thrilled to announce their joint first place victory in receiving the esteemed Joanna Mugridge Research Award at the recent Marie Curie Conference held in February. Their winning entry, the poster titled “Early Primary Care and Hospice Engagement with Patients to Think, Talk, or Act on End of Life Care Needs: The ‘Talk’ Pilot,” captivated judges and attendees alike with its innovative approach and impactful findings.
The announcement, made during the conference in early February, marked a significant achievement for the ‘Talk’ evaluation team at Pilgrims Hospices, working with the Centre for Health Services Studies, University of Kent on evaluating the pilot. The team’s poster was one of 67 at the conference, reviewed by a panel of judges.
The Joanna Mugridge Research Award, established in memory of Joanna, a dedicated nurse at the Marie Curie Hospice in Caterham, serves to honour her legacy and unwavering commitment to serving individuals and families affected by cancer. Created by her family, following Joanna’s passing in May 2000, the award aims to support the vital work of Marie Curie and its researchers in advancing palliative care.
We are delighted to have received this recognition for the poster, it will inform the development of our Talk project within our region, moving forward, which supports earlier identification and referral of patients who need our hospice services”Charlotte Brigden – Pilgrims Hospices Research Facilitator
Presented annually at the Marie Curie Palliative Care Research Conference, the award recognises outstanding contributions to research in the field of palliative care. It not only celebrates excellence but also provides recipients with resources to further their research, education, and professional development.
Doctor Andrew Thorns, Pilgrims Hospices Consultant in Palliative Care and Research Lead, expressed: “I’m so pleased for the project team, this is recognition of a great idea, lots of work, and the start of things to come—well done!”
Pilgrims Hospices extends heartfelt gratitude to Joanna Mugridge’s family for their invaluable support in perpetuating research efforts aimed at enhancing end-of-life care. The recognition received for their “Talk” pilot project underscores the team’s dedication to improving patient outcomes and fostering compassionate care practices. Pilgrims hope to share this information more widely moving forward.
For those interested in learning more about Pilgrims Hospices’ impactful work in end-of-life care, please visit www.pilgrimshospices.org.
Care is provided from three hospice sites in Ashford, Canterbury, and Thanet, as well as in patients’ own homes. To offer these services to patients and their families, the charity must raise £11 million each year from the generous local community.
