Hospice trust marks 50 years of end-of-life care

The Macmillan Unit cares for 16 people at a time

Staff and volunteers at the charitable trust which helps run the first hospice to have partnered with the NHS has marked its 50th anniversary.

Macmillan Caring Locally (MCL) was formed in 1974 after establishing the Macmillan Unit at Christchurch Hospital.

The unit provides end of life care for up to 16 patients at a time and is funded by both the NHS and MCL, which needs to raise almost £2m a year to keep it running.

Terry Crawley, who volunteers with the trust after it provided care for his wife Barbara, said the unit was "excellent".

In addition to those at the unit, MCL also provides hundreds of patients with end of life care in the community.

Having been diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer a few weeks before the couple's 61st wedding anniversary, Barbara stayed at home for as long as she could with the support of MCL.

Terry Crawley's wife Barbara was cared for at the hospice

"They were excellent in as much as they came and talked to us at our home and just helped us as a family come to terms with what was obviously a terrible shock," an emotional Terry told the BBC.

"Barbara's condition deteriorated quickly and the Macmillan nurses suggested that Barbara come in to the hospice for respite and to review her medication."

Just 48 hours after being moved to the hospice, Barbara passed away - seven weeks after being diagnosed.

"Many of us [volunteers] have stories to tell of loved ones - Barbara was so well treated that I just wanted to repay what they did," Terry said.

The unit was founded by Dr Ronald Fisher

The unit, which was founded by Dr Ronald Fisher, has a dedicated team of palliative care nurses to look after its patients.

"I came here straight as a student and in December, I would've been here 18 years," unit sister Allanna Sinclair said.

"We take patients with life-limiting illnesses and ensure that they are as comfortable as possible and have the best death possible."

Allanna Sinclair has worked at the unit for almost 18 years

Ms Sinclair said the unit cares for patients of all ages: "We often have young patients as well, and we can go through periods of having a few patients in their thirties and that is quite difficult."

The charitable trust that runs the hospice in partnership with the NHS has to raise £1.8m every year to keep the unit running.

The unit was opened in 1973 by the then Duchess of Roxburghe, Mary Innes-Ker

Secretary of the trust Neal Williams said: "We're very small, we are not part of the national Macmillan Cancer Support, we're a totally independent small charity."

He said the emphasis of the unit was that "it's not a hospital, it's a home from home".

"If you enjoy a gin and tonic with your meal at home, then why shouldn't you do the same in the hospice - our clinical teams and our volunteers are there to make sure that our patients get the best possible care," he said.

To mark the trust's half century, the unit held a fundraising party - placing eyes very much on the future while also celebrating its past.