I was honoured to be asked to attend the launch of a great new initiative for prospective patients at St Mary’s Hospice in Selly Oak.

The hospice has put together a reassuring DVD which hopes to alleviate possible fears new patients might have about life at St Mary’s, which provides vital care to people with life-limiting illnesses across Birmingham and Sandwell.  The DVD was inspired by patients who said their initial fear and anxiety over coming into hospice care had turned out to be unfounded.   On arriving at the Hospice they had instead found fellowship, support and fun.  With a voice over by BBC Midlands Today’s Nick Owen, the film has been issued to GPs, district nurses, consultants and clinical nurse specialists to give to people who are in the process of being referred to Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice.

The patients featured in the DVD movingly explain how the Hospice has transformed their lives through its wide variety of services, from symptom management and Complementary Therapies to support at home.

It was a real privilege to be invited to see this film. Some of the messages that came out from the patients featured was very powerful, I found myself very moved.  There’s some great work being done at Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice and I hope that the film is able to put people’s minds at ease when they are facing the difficult situation of coping with a terminal illness.

Since its launch in 1979, Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice has cared for tens of thousands of people with life-limiting illnesses, such as cancer, motor neurone disease and MS. In addition to a 25-bed Inpatient Unit, Birmingham St Mary’s boasts a 20-place Day Hospice and provides community care to people who wish to stay in their own homes.  The Hospice also supports relatives with bereavement preparation, physiotherapy tuition and counselling in addition to many other services.  Birmingham St Mary’s nurses, often referred to by patients and relatives as ‘angels’, are renowned for going that extra mile to ensure people with terminal illnesses enjoy the best possible quality of life.

To view the film online and for more information go to http://www.bsmh.org.uk/