Press release
Use your voice to help to improve the future of palliative care
A unique opportunity for citizens to shape the future of palliative care is being offered by All Ireland Institute of Hospice and Palliative Care (AIIHPC).
AIIHPC is looking for new volunteers to join Voices4Care, a forum established to learn from people’s personal experiences of palliative care and to inform and influence palliative care on the island of Ireland.
Members of Voices4Care are:
· People with a life limiting illness/palliative care needs
· Carers or former carers of people with palliative care needs
· Citizens with an interest in palliative care.
Palliative care focusses on helping a person with a life limiting illness to achieve the best quality of life as their illness progresses, it is beneficial for people with a range of conditions, and across all ages.
Frances Murphy, from Dublin, said that the all-Island scope of the work of AIIHPC appealed to her when she applied to join Voices4Care,
“While it was my nursing background, working in palliative care, and the death of my oldest sister (coincidently also a nurse) that sparked my interest in Voices4Care when I retired- to be very honest the name All Ireland Institute of Hospice and Palliative Care was what really appealed to me- it encompassed the whole island of Ireland.
“Through Voices4Care, you will have opportunities to hear from some of our health care professionals via presentations, forums, conferences, and to take part in research projects on death and dying and educate yourself. This, along with your own experiences will help to improve services for yourself, your loved ones and all those in our communities throughout the whole island of Ireland,” Frances said.
Dr Brian Creedon, former HSE National Clinical Lead for Palliative Care (ROI) said,
“The contribution made from Voices4Care to the National Clinical Programme for Palliative Care is integral to all discussions and to developments within the programme. The personal experiences shared provide an insight into potential gaps that may exist for people requiring palliative care services, their carers and families and allow for better approaches and therefore, better outcomes. I would encourage those who do have this experience or have an interested in palliative care to join Voices4Care.”
Karen Charnley, Director, AIIHPC, said,
“This presents a unique opportunity for people to make a significant contribution to the future of palliative care services. The voices of those who have direct experience of palliative care is a vital part of informing and influencing our own work within AIIHPC and also wider palliative care developments across the island of Ireland.”
Applications open on Monday 28 March and will close on Monday 9 May 2022. *Applicants must be 18 years or over at the time of application.
Further information about joining Voices4Care is available at www.aiihpc.org. People interested in getting involved are asked to get in touch with AIIHPC and to complete an expression of interest form by Monday 9 May. To find out more contact: Paula Pinto, ppinto@aiihpc.org, 00353 87 1961430
ENDS
For media enquiries or to request an interview, please contact Yvonne McCahill, Communications Manager, AIIHPC, ymccahill@aiihpc.org, 00353-87-0947148
Paula Pinto explains more about joining Voices4Care:
Paula Pinto invites you to join Voices4Care – YouTube
Monica Burns, Voices4Care Member talks about the benefits of joining Voices4Care:
Monica Burns, Voices4Care Member – YouTube
Notes to Editor:
AIIHPC
All Ireland Institute of Hospice and Palliative Care (AIIHPC) is a leading organisation with national and international influence driving excellence in palliative care. AIIHPC is a collaborative of hospices, health and social care organisations and universities on the island of Ireland. AIIHPC advances education, research, policy and practice to improve the palliative care experience of people with life limiting conditions and their families.
Voices4Care Members
Frances Murphy
Frances’ experience of working in Our Lady’s Hospice and Care Services in Harold’s Cross brought home to her the importance of care for the dying just as her experience of working as a midwife brought home to her the importance of preparing for childbirth.
Preparing for death and dying is very frightening both for the patient and their family. Frances was working in the hospice when a family member was dying and came to the hospice for palliative care. Frances met with the whole family in their home as they had a large family of siblings and explained the process of what went on in the hospice setting regarding their mum and her initial care and care at end of life.
The family were able to ask questions and voice their fears which helped to allay their anxieties and discuss the options available to them.
Often people come in for respite care and to give their family or carer a break, also they come into the day care unit and meet the staff and other patients so that helps to break down the barriers of their fear, pain relief and symptoms relief plus spiritual care which is so important to people of all faiths and none.
There are lots of services that the hospice provides and sometimes it is the ancillary staff whom the patients confide their fears and worries in the most, such as those working in catering, cleaning, porters and others.
Frances summed up her experience of working in the hospice, saying ‘if I couldn’t die in my own home surrounded by my own family, I would like to die in the hospice.’
“That is why I feel strongly about Voices 4Care- volunteers have the golden opportunity to use their own voice to make it better for our own dying and that of our loved ones, and all our people on this island,” Frances said.
John Joyce
John Joyce is from Foxford, Co. Mayo and has been receiving palliative care for a number of years and has so generously shared his own lived experience through his work with Voices4Care, for the benefit of others.
John has found his involvement, being able to contribute to the future developments in palliative care, a very rewarding and beneficial one.
“It has been a very positive experience to have been able to use my own personal experience of palliative care and the services available to provide input into research, policy and other developments to improve palliative care for people across the whole of the island.
“I recently contributed to a media article about palliative care and shared island approach to the work of AIIHPC. This was one of many public awareness opportunities I have been involved with through Voices4Care, including Palliative Care Week, a public awareness campaign which takes place every September.
“Voices4Care has given me the opportunity to talk directly to health care providers and to people interested in palliative care research. It allows me to bring a down to earth reality to the research agenda by being able to talk about my own lived experience of palliative care. I have really valued the opportunity to be a member of Voices4Care and would encourage anyone interested to think about joining.”