Helping to shape ambulance services for people in the last year of life
Pilgrims Hospices is collaborating with a research team at the University of Southampton, the University of the West of England and South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust to invite people who have had experiences of ambulance callouts to learn about their views and help shape ambulance services in the future.
The research, called the ParAid Study and funded by Marie Curie, is evaluating how different ways of delivering services influence paramedic practice and experiences of individuals at end-of-life.
Paramedics are often important to patients in the last year of life (end- of-life). We know that 999 calls are increasing for individuals and their families at end-of-life, which may be because services in the community are under pressure e.g. those provided by family doctors and community nurses.
Little wide-scale research has been carried out to understand the contribution played by paramedics in these situations and how this might be improved.
From practice, it is known that paramedics attending patients at end-of-life face complex issues, such as:
Not knowing the patient or their family
Lack of availability of patient history
Fear of doing wrong
Issues with family conflict
A lack of healthcare professionals to handover to out-of-hours, if the patient is to remain at home.
These issues can mean people are admitted to hospital when circumstances mean they could be cared for at home.
Natasha Campling
Dr Natasha Campling (Associate Professor, School of Health Sciences, University of Southampton), who is leading the research, said:
“We have already carried out a large-scale survey of paramedics throughout England to understand their professional practice and what factors influence this, and are now conducting in-depth case studies (collecting information from patients, carers and healthcare professionals) to examine different ways of delivering services. It is important to evaluate ambulance service delivery and understand how the best parts of service provision can be incorporated into other services to improve the quality of care and support provided to patients and their families during this crucial period of time. This may prevent unnecessary hospital admissions at end-of-life, which often leads to people dying in hospital.”
If you have had an ambulance callout in recent months, are aged 18+, living in your own home, in the last year of life, or a current or bereaved carer for someone in this situation, you may be eligible to take part in a one-off interview about your experience. A £25 voucher will be offered to those who take part.
If you are interested in taking part, please contact the Research team (and see the study poster for further information):
Each year, Pilgrims Hospices care for thousands of people across east Kent, with services provided from its three hospice sites in Ashford, Canterbury, and Thanet, as well as in patients’ own homes. It costs over £17.2 million annually to run these services, much of which comes from the generous support of the local community.
Our fundraising activities and your generosity mean that we’re able to continue to offer our end-of-life services to our local communities when and where they need it. With your help and support, we intend to continually develop, and improve, our services so that we are still here, still caring, both now and in the future.
Please keep safe and well.
Best wishes,
The Pilgrims Hospices team
Pilgrims Hospices is a charity dedicated to providing expert care and support to patients with life-limiting illnesses in east Kent. Our services ensure comfort, dignity, and quality of life for patients and their families, offering compassionate care both in hospice settings and in the community.
9th April 2024
Pilgrims Matters virtual edition – Spring / Summer 2024
As the weather warms, we look forward to a bustling season of events and bring you uplifting news from across Pilgrims. In this edition, we bring you stories, insights, and information that resonate with the spirit of the coming months.
Our fundraising activities and your generosity mean that we’re able to continue to offer our end-of-life services to our local communities when and where they need it. With your help and support, we intend to continually develop, and improve, our services so that we are still here, still caring, both now and in the future.
Please keep safe and well.
Best wishes,
The Pilgrims Hospices team
Each year, Pilgrims Hospices give care and comfort to thousands of people in east Kent coming to terms with an illness that sadly cannot be cured. The charity supports patients to live life as well as possible until the very end, free from pain and distress. 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.
As the winter approaches, we find ourselves entering a season of reflection, compassion, and connection. In this edition, we aim to bring you stories, insights, and information that resonate with the spirit of the upcoming winter months.
In this edition, you’ll find:
Give the gift of care – Know your legacy will live on for generations to come
Become a bereavement support volunteer – Pilgrims Stepping Stones Bereavement Support groups offer informal assistance to bereaved adults across east Kent.
Alan’s story – Gemma tells us about her dad, Alan, and the memories of his last weeks that she’ll keep forever.
GrowUp – Vertical farming specialists are donating fresh salad vegetables from their range of produce to Pilgrims Hospices kitchens.
Cate Gibson – Cate’s first year as a Palliative Specialist Nurse
Our fundraising activities and your generosity mean that we are able to continue to offer our end-of-life services, to our local communities when and where they need it. With your help and support, we intend to continually develop, and improve our services so that we are still here, still caring, both now and in the future.
Please keep safe and well.
Best wishes,
The Pilgrims Hospices team
Pilgrims Hospices is a charity dedicated to providing expert care and support to patients with life-limiting illnesses in east Kent. Our services ensure comfort, dignity, and quality of life for patients and their families, offering compassionate care both in hospice settings and in the community.
Spring has sprung! Here at Pilgrims Hospices, we’re enjoying the lighter days and looking forward to a summer full of exciting events. We hope you’ll join us in celebrating all things Pilgrims in the coming months.
Our fundraising activities and your generosity mean that we are able to continue to offer our end-of-life services to our local communities when and where they need it. With your help and support, we intend to continually develop and improve our services so that we are still here, still caring, both now and in the future.
Please keep safe and well.
Best wishes,
The Pilgrims Hospices team
Each year, Pilgrims Hospices give care and comfort to thousands of people in east Kent coming to terms with an illness that sadly cannot be cured. The charity supports patients to live life as well as possible until the very end, free from pain and distress. 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.
28th March 2023
Sunflower Memories: David’s story
In 2023, Pilgrims Hospices celebrates 10 years of Sunflower Memories, its annual summer remembrance campaign. People across east Kent will come together at the hospices in Ashford, Canterbury and Thanet on Saturday 22 July to remember loved ones with special sunflower memory markers.
David remembers his wife, Sue, who worked for Pilgrims before receiving our care.
My wife Sue was the most amazing, caring and loving lady that I had the privilege to have been allowed to marry, love and share life with for the last 46 amazing years. Sue was very loved by all those who knew her. Not just friends but also she had a deep love for all our nieces and nephews who loved her back.
Sue was a legal secretary for some 27 years, working at many local firms before deciding that the care and nursing profession was her destiny. After working for the East Kent Hospitals Trust, she worked in end-of-life care in our community, before joining the Pilgrims Hospices team at Ashford. They were the best years in her life, during which she made many good friends among her patients.
Sue on the front cover of Pilgrims Matters 2013
Antiques was Sue’s passion, we could sit fifty people down for tea and each person would have a different cup and saucer! She was a very talented lady who could turn her hand to many things from dressmaking, to tending her beloved garden, water colour painting and making many wedding cakes. Sue was a prominent member of our community, involved in everything from fundraising activities, helping lead her local WI group, to helping administer COVID jabs during the pandemic.
Despite her illness, Sue always remained positive and upbeat and never complained, even though I knew she was in pain. I was so lucky to be home and right at her side at the end of her fight. She was my strength, my endurance, my friend and my love.
Sunflower Memories gives me time to reflect and remember Sue at a place she loved so very much while supporting the incredible work carried out at Pilgrims Hospices. Pilgrims meant so much to Sue and that is why I continue to support whenever I can.
Sunflower Days will take place on Saturday 22 July 2023, 10am-2pm, at our Ashford, Canterbury and Thanet hospices, where we welcome you to share your memories with us and each other, and celebrate in the sunshine.
Each year, Pilgrims Hospices give care and comfort to thousands of people in east Kent coming to terms with an illness that sadly cannot be cured. The charity supports patients to live life as well as possible until the very end, free from pain and distress. 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.
