Marie Curie Companions win special Musgrove Park Hospital award

The innovative Marie Curie Companions service at Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton, Somerset, has won the Volunteers of the Year award at the hospital’s annual Musgrove Awards for Tremendous Achievement (MAFTAs) earlier this week.

The team of 20+ specially-trained volunteers were recognised for their role in providing practical and emotional support to people who are dying and their families in Somerset’s largest acute trust. Since its launch in July 2014, the pilot service has supported over 100 patients and their families. 

The winners were whittled down from 170 nominations across 11 categories.  The shortlist of staff and volunteers were then invited to a celebratory MAFTAs dinner at Somerset County Cricket Club for the winners to be unveiled.

The evening was co-hosted by Therapies Lead, Claire Boobyer-Jones and Musgrove’s Chief Executive, Dr Sam Barrell, who paid tribute to the Marie Curie companion volunteers present. She said: "This is an amazing service. Thank you for the kindness you show to our dying patients and their families, at such a difficult time."

Julia Bearne, the Marie Curie Project Manager, added: “As we are fairly new at the hospital we were completely surprised to win but it demonstrates just how much this Marie Curie service and these very special volunteers are thought of at Musgrove Park. I’m delighted that their challenging but rewarding role in supporting people who are dying and their families has been recognised in such a wonderful way.”

Dr Tom MacConnell, Consultant Cardiologist at Musgrove, a passionate supporter of the service who nominated the volunteers for their MAFTA, said: “They are absolute stars. This award is very well deserved.” 

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