Demos and Sue Ryder call for action to prevent ‘hit and miss’ end of life care

Demos and Sue Ryder launch research to reveal vast differences in diagnosis and support between groups of terminally ill patients based on arbitrary factors.  

The research published today (19 June) by the think-tank Demos, and supported by Sue Ryder, reveals unacceptable inequalities in end of life care, and calls on government and commissioners to level the playing field.  

Dying Matters Awareness Week 2013 gets underway

Today sees the launch of Dying Matters Awareness Week 2013, which aims to change public attitudes and behaviours towards dying, death and bereavement. 

The Dying Matters Coalition has various member organisations, including Sue Ryder, which span across the NHS, voluntary and independent health and care sectors.

New research released by the coalition today shows that the majority of people in Britain have not discussed or made any plans for when they die, and as a result are at risk of not getting the appropriate end of life care.

WANTED: Sue Ryder launch month-long campaign encouraging people to donate unwanted items to its shops

People throw away millions of items a week rather than donate to charity as they feel they are too worn or old – but Sue Ryder will take everything from a once worn blouse to an odd sock.  So you don’t need to open your wallet or climb a mountain to help your local charity just clear out your cupboard and donate your unwanted items.

Sue Ryder wants your unwanted items – old or new, so they can turn them into incredible care for people with life-changing illness. The charity reuses, recycles and re-sells over 15,000 tons of donations a year that might normally end up as unnecessary landfill. Last year, Sue Ryder generated over £9.5 million from the sale of donated and new goods.

Sue Ryder Prison Volunteer Programme shortlisted for national award

Among The Charity Awards shortlist announced on Tuesday 7 May is Sue Ryder's programme to increase long-term volunteer support across over 400 charity shops while also helping offenders to learn new skills. The Charity Awards are one of the sector’s most prestigious schemes, and the 2013 winners will be announced on 13 June. 

Sue Ryder response to Queen's Speech

Paul Woodward, CEO at Sue Ryder said:

Sue Ryder Chief Executive to retire after seven years of incredible care

Paul Woodward, Chief Executive at Sue Ryder, has announced his retirement after seven successful years.   

As a leading charitable health and social care provider, Sue Ryder provides incredible care for people with life-changing illness. Whether it’s bringing comfort to someone’s final days or enabling them to make the most of their life, the team at Sue Ryder are there for them and their loved ones.

Paul Woodward, Chief Executive at Sue Ryder said:

“It has been a privilege to lead such a fine organisation and I would like to thank everyone for the support they have given Sue Ryder and to me personally. I am confident that this support will continue for the charity and my successor in the years to come. In the meantime I remain fully committed to leading Sue Ryder until my retirement. 

“The charity is in good shape with an exciting new strategy and five year plan. Sue Ryder is ready for a new chapter and I have every confidence that, inspired by a new Chief Executive, the organisation will achieve great things and will continue to provide incredible care to the people we care for and their families.”

Roger Paffard, chairman at Sue Ryder said: 

“After seven years service, Paul Woodward, our Chief Executive, has decided to retire. He will hand over to a new Chief Executive by the end of this financial year, March 2014.

We will now implement our plans to use the time to follow a thorough process to identify and appoint a new Chief Executive to lead us through the next five years. Until that time, Paul will remain firmly at the helm.

Under Paul's leadership Sue Ryder has gone from strength to strength. We now care for more than 16,000 people each year. Our hospices have been refurbished and we have introduced personalised care. We now have more than 10,000 volunteers, our finances are in much better shape and our net Retail income is topping £10 million.

I shall be very sad to see Paul retire given his outstanding contribution to the successful development of Sue Ryder, but I believe we are in a strong position to continue to provide incredible care to those we care for and their families.”

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Sue Ryder awarded £1.2m Government grant to deliver incredible hospice care

Sue Ryder welcomes a £1.2 million Department of Health grant announced today (10 April 2013) by health minister, Norman Lamb, for three of its hospices in Peterborough, Reading and Cheltenham.

The grant will be used to develop an enhanced range of end of life care services that will give people more choice and control over how and where they'd like to receive care.

It is estimated that 250,000 people every year within the UK already rely upon charity run hospice services to provide end of life care.  As a leading charitable health and social care provider, Sue Ryder provides incredible care for people with life-changing illness. Whether it’s bringing comfort to someone’s final days or enabling them to make the most of their life, Sue Ryder is there for them and their loved ones.

The grant awarded to Sue Ryder is part of the Department of Health’s £60 million capital grant programme announced in 2012.  The grant programme aims to fund improvements to the physical environment of hospices throughout England, by increasing the capacity for hospice environments to improve quality of life and independence for patients.

Sue Ryder’s Duchess of Kent House, Leckhampton Court Hospice and Thorpe Hall Hospice will each use the funding to progress planned refurbishment and renovation work to enhance its services for people and their families.

Within the referral area of Thorpe Hall Hospice, it is estimated that 75,000 people are living with an incurable illness that requires specialist care; with 13,000 of those people living in Peterborough alone.  In order to meet this increasing need, Sue Ryder has launched a capital appeal to raise £6 million by March 2015 to fund a new purpose-built, state-of-the-art hospice to be built in the grounds of the existing building.  The new hospice will be a centre of excellence offering a wider range of end-of-life care for people in the region.

Paul Woodward, Chief Executive at Sue Ryder said:

“Hospice care provides a dignified and comfortable alternative for people to spend their final days.  The nature of the care we provide means that we are not only able to relieve pain and other distressing symptoms, but can also offer psychological, social and spiritual support for patients, families and carers.

“Improving quality of life and delivering personalised care is at the heart of all Sue Ryder’s service developments.  The Department of Health grant - secured for three of our seven hospices – will be used to develop our services to ensure that we continue to provide care that allows people to live well and remain as independent as possible.

"We are committed to ensuring high quality end of life care for all and welcome this important recognition that improving facilities and surrounding environments is an integral part of this.”

The following three Sue Ryder hospices received funding:

Sue Ryder – Duchess of Kent House in Reading

Established 20 years ago, Duchess of Kent House hospice is the sole provider of specialist palliative care for people living in the Berkshire West area, and has been awarded £456,943.  The grant will be used to revitalise the inpatient facilities by creating 15 en-suite bedrooms with WIFI access, constructing a new reception area and introducing telemedicine facilities helping patients’ access services from their own homes.

Pamela Chatfield, Care Services Manager at Duchess of Kent House Hospice said:

“We are proud to receive this award to ensure that we can maintain our high standard of specialist palliative care.  The improvements to living spaces and our reception area will have a far reaching and positive effect on our patients, their families and our staff.”

Sue Ryder – Leckhampton Court Hospice in Cheltenham

Leckhampton Court Hospice has been awarded £202,707 to improve day hospice facilities.  This will include extending the building to create new consultancy and therapy rooms, creating more multifunctional spaces to help respond to different patient needs and increased access to the hospice gardens.

Lorraine Dixon, Palliative Care Services Manager at Leckhampton Court Hospice said:

“This is fabulous news for the hospice and the people of Gloucestershire. The improved facilities will enable us to expand the high quality specialist palliative care we offer to support more patients and their families to be cared for in their own homes for as long as possible. ”  

Sue Ryder – Thorpe Hall Hospice in Peterborough

Thorpe Hall Hospice has been awarded £510,146 to develop a new day hospice service that will run alongside the existing inpatient hospice facility. The new service will help to meet identified local needs and will enable people living with a range of conditions to access all the services they need in the same place, helping to avoid  often stressful visits to local hospital acute units.  The day service is part of wider plans to build a purpose-built and state-of-the art hospice. 

Phillip Ball, Palliative Care Services Manager at Thorpe Hall Hospice said:

“The team at Thorpe Hall Hospice are thrilled to have been successful in getting this Department of Health grant.  It will go a long way to helping refresh older parts of the building in preparation for connection to the new Inpatient unit we have launched our appeal for. These new spaces will help us deliver new and expanded services for the local community, keeping us at the forefront of the delivery of incredible care.”