"Coming to the hospice gives me great comfort and support."
Miss M, Reading
Staff at the Marie Curie Hospice Hampstead explain why they enjoy their jobs as well as revealing their hobbies and favourite songs.
I joined the team in September 2009.
Having the opportunity to meet and talk to patients and their families and learning what a huge difference the hospice team and the care provided means to them.
The all round care that we provide means that patients and their families / carers can be supported.
Also the Day Therapy Unit ensures that patients can access various facilities under one roof during one visit – this enables them to fit their visits to the hospice around their lifestyle more easily than they could if they had to visit a number of different service providers for the support we give them.
Walking, badminton, swimming, cooking, entertaining friends, days out.
Anything by Luther Vandross (especially ‘Dance with My Father’) and George Michael.
Nearly 25 years.
We produce over 800 meals a week for in-patients, day patients, visitors, staff and volunteers.
Serving food to patients is the most rewarding part of my job. I like to know we can do something to make patients stay with us as comfortable as possible.
main course: chicken dishesdessert: chocolate sponge and custard
We can cater for all sorts of dietary needs, including kosher, halal and patients requiring pureed food. We often have special requests for baked potatoes with patients’ own choice of fillings, particular salads and sandwiches and hot meals like omelettes and fish dishes.
Going to the gym, swimming.
Anything by George Michael!
I’ve been working in the hospice in Hampstead since November 2009.
The most rewarding part is hearing our patients say how good they feel after a gym session. Many people say that doing regular exercise in the gym and the hydrotherapy pool gives them back control over life to be able to achieve their goals.
There is a lot of research to show that exercise helps to improve cancer and treatment related side effects. By improving physical fitness and stamina people are able to return to activities such as going on trips with family or cooking a meal, which were previously unachievable due to their condition and subsequent treatments.
Improving strength and functional ability improves a patient’s independence and families and carers are often able to spend more quality time with each other as a result. Seeing the benefits of improving fitness and strength even inspires them to take up more exercise themselves.
I also love to exercise and the patients inspire me to go to the gym on days when I’m feeling less motivated. I also love team sports and play Touch Rugby. I’m also a big food fan and like to go out for lots of meals. As I’ve just moved to London I’m also making my way round the sights and attractions in my spare time.
It’s so difficult to pick just one...If I need some motivation in the gym it would be “Eye of the Tiger” (we used to play it before a big rugby game when I was at University!)
I've been with Marie Curie since 2003.
My sister died of cancer in Takapuna Hospice in New Zealand and I was very impressed with the treatment she received. I had a friend who died at the Marie Curie Hospice, Hampstead.
Seeing the improvement both physically and mentally that the patients make.
Listening and talking about so many subjects outside of their particular illness.
Theatre, films, galleries, reading, listening to music, meeting friends for lunch.
Somewhere over the rainbow. Also anything by Cole Porter and Irvin Berlin.
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