The Mary Ann Evans Hospice is an independent charity established to provide day hospice and hospice at home services to the residents of Nuneaton, Bedworth and North Warwickshire.  We currently offer a comprehensive day-care unit; hospice at home and lymphoedema service. 

 

Our philosophy is: To enhance the quality of life for people who have a life limiting illness, enabling them to live as normal a life as possible by offering physical, emotion, social and spiritual support to them, their families and carers.   As hospice chaplain I confess that no two days are ever the same and what a delight that is!

 

Perhaps you can relate to the following scenario -

‘No!’ ‘Why me?’ ‘What if……’ ‘Maybe’ ‘Do you think…?’

Questions and more questions often flood through our minds when a serious illness is diagnosed and these in turn often prompt patients, family and friends alike to think about the future – hopes, dreams, fears and invariably something about the meaning of life.

 

As full-time Chaplain to the hospice I believe that spirituality is reflected in each person’s most precious beliefs and values– it is the essence of who we are and in this respect it makes us all very unique and individual.

 

My role at the hospice is not to convert people but to walk alongside all who face the difficult path of illness, including family and friends. (I take my lead from Matthew 25:40) How do I do this?

 

Well spiritual care can be reflected in many ways:   I am a listening ear – sometimes an ear to bend! I am a hand to hold, a shoulder to cry on, someone to plunge the depths of fearful scenarios, someone to laugh with, bounce ideas off, someone who can facilitate meetings with other faith groups or with other organizations who can offer support and, of course, I am here as a representative of Christian faith.

 

I like to think that the hospice is a place where, along with other members of staff and trained volunteers, I can help others to understand what makes them so unique and individual. Obviously religion does play a part in the form of regular communion services, prayers placed on our prayer tree or perhaps even a prayer walk around our beautiful grounds. Many people have spoken about the benefit and peace they get from being at the hospice where their needs are being met in body, mind and spirit. 

 

Celebrations are also a vibrant part of our community in the hospice and I am called to carry out a number of thanksgiving/blessing services which can be both moving and poignant to all involved.

 

Good pastoral care does not end with the death of a patient; the bereavement service team at the hospice is committed to supporting both family and carers should they wish, either by a telephone support service or facilitating a bereavement support group.

 

Volunteers in both chaplaincy and bereavement support receive comprehensive training and are invaluable in the work of the hospice. It is reassuring to know that when I am out in community there are committed people willing to undertake these vital roles.

 

If you would like to help, contact: Rev. Linda Mudd (02476 865440) or linda.mudd@geh.nhs.uk

 

 

2009 sees the publication of our Social Responsibility Report 'Care Where it's needed' which focus on sector ministry in Coventry and Warwickshire means caring for those in particular situations – the patients and staff in hospitals and hospices; the prisoners and staff in custodial institutions of which there are three in our diocese; the employer, employee and those encountering the effect of the credit crunch and recession at first hand; those in rural life; and, those many thousands who are pupils, students or staff in schools, colleges and universities.  If you would like to download a copy of this document, please click here