Michael Matheson and John McNally join staff at Strathcarron Hospice to support their Lottery Awards campaign
Strathcarron Hospice’s “Hospice at Home” service has been campaigning to win votes in the National Lottery Awards which could see them secure a spot on national television and take home a £2000 cash prize.
The National Lottery Awards, now in their twelfth year, are an annual search to find the UK’s favourite Lottery funded projects, and local charity Strathcarron Hospice are hopeful that their service will secure enough public votes to win this year’s top spot in the health category.
Local parliamentarians Michael Matheson MSP and John McNally MP joined staff at Strathacrron Hospice to offer their support and get behind the campaign.
Speaking after his recent visit to the Hospice in Denny, Falkirk West MSP Michael Matheson said:
“Strathcarron Hospice provides an incredible service for the local community, and I hope that everyone across the area will get behind their campaign as they strive to secure funding. Please go online or pick up the phone and cast a vote in favour of the Strathcarron bid.”
Falkirk MP John McNally added:
“Almost everyone that I know in the local area has benefitted from the support of the amazing team at Strathcarron Hospice. I am sure that everyone who knows the incredible job they do will want to support them and vote for their bid to win the Lottery Award.”
Strathcarron Hospice at Home provides people – many of whom only have weeks left to live – with practical advice, nursing support and complementary therapies in the comfort of their own home.
The project is run by experienced palliative care nurses (specialists in caring for the terminally ill) who offer emotional support to patients and carers as well as hand, foot and full-body massage treatment, help with feeding and assistance with controlling any symptoms they have as a result of life-limiting illnesses. Carers are also given advice and training on how to deal with symptoms and give massage when a nurse is not around.
Since the project launch in August 2014, more than 140 patients and families have been supported. To date, 84 per cent of patients have managed to stay and die at home as they wished to. The other nine per cent of patients had conditions which stabilised as a result of the project, and a further seven per cent were admitted to the Hospice with the consent of the patients and their carers.
Anyone wishing to support Strathcarron Hospice’s efforts to win the Lottery Award can vote for them online at www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk/awards/health or can call 0844 836 9703. Voting closes on 29th July.
