Lord-Lieutenant Visits Ayrshire Hospice, Ayr

 The Ayrshire Hospice is well known locally as there are very few families who have not been affected in some way by a family member or friend who has suffered from a life limiting health issue. Consequently the Hospice may have played a part in their care.
When the Lord-Lieutenant, Sheriff Iona McDonald recently visited the Ayrshire Hospice in Racecourse Road in Ayr she was advised that;
•  The Ayrshire Hospice provides outstanding quality care and services which helps those with any life-limiting illness including cancer, neurological conditions, end stage heart failure and lung disease.  Care is provided where there is no cure for the condition, but which improves the quality of each day for people who have a limited time to live. 

• The Ayrshire Hospice is not just a building - it is a way of caring for people. The hospice helps people to live as actively as they can to the end of their lives - however long that may be, where ever that may be.  Care is provided by hospice staff in a number of places including people’s own homes, hospitals and care homes as well as in the hospice’s purpose built day care centre and in-patient unit.

• The hospice not only takes care of people’s physical needs but look after their emotional, spiritual and social needs too. Family members, close friends and carers are also supported both during a person’s illness and in bereavement.

• For some people facing the end of life it’s the small things than can make the biggest difference like having a special family meal or seeing a beloved pet. Others may have big goals that they would like to achieve like travelling to a meaningful destination or marrying the love of their life.  Whatever means the most to someone the wonderful team of hospice employed and voluntary staff will pull out all the stops to try to make it happen. That’s because the hospice is here to help people live well until they die. It is vital work filled with moments that make people smile during a time that’s difficult for everyone. It’s about making today matter.

• The Ayrshire Hospice looks after patients and families from across the whole of Ayrshire and during 2017-18 had 1,398 referrals with 30% from East Ayrshire, 31% from South Ayrshire and 38% from North Ayrshire.

• Over a third of patients that come to the hospice in-patient unit are discharged and are able to return home after a period of care, assessment, treatment or respite.

• The majority of the care provided by the hospice is provided in the community with just over 3,605 visits being made to patients during 2017-18 by a team of community specialist palliative care nurses.

• 175 referrals were made to Solas day services, allowing patients to visit the hospice for the day and giving them access to a range of services including therapy and interest groups, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, drop in café, Carers café and respite care.

• 189 permanent employed staff and 525 volunteers work together to provide outstanding hospice care across Ayrshire, at no cost to patients or their families. The amazing team of volunteers gave a phenomenal 96, 128 hours of their time during 2017-18.

• The care provided by the Ayrshire Hospice is at no cost to the patient. However, it does require extensive, on-going fundraising support.  During 2017-18, it cost over £7.7 million to run all hospice services, including clinical, fundraising and support services – equating to over £21,000 per day.  Over £4.5 million was raised through voluntary donations alone.

• 80p of every pound donated goes directly to providing clinical services, the remaining 20p goes towards supporting clinical services

Following the visit the Lord-Lieutenant remarked “I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to the Hospice and learnt so much on the vast range of services that they provide. The patients, their families and other visitors receive a level of care and support that is second to none from an amazing team of dedicated staff and volunteers. It was evident that nothing seems to be too much trouble for the staff who do whatever they can to make the patients stay more pleasant. “
Sheriff McDonald Is pictured below with Staff, Volunteers and Patients