Hospice boss accepts ward member grant from big-hearted Bourne councillor

A hospice boss has backed a donation from a big-hearted councillor.

Chris Wheway, chief executive of St Barnabas Hospice, welcomed the grant of £333 from South Kesteven District councillor Duncan Ashwell.

Coun Ashwell has earmarked the money from his ward member grant fund to help St Barnabas Hospice run its Hospital at Home service.

The scheme helps adults with a life-limiting or terminal illness to be cared for in their own homes.

Mr Wheway said: “This welcome donation will go to support clinical care in the Bourne area so it is very much for the people who live around here.

“It will pay for nursing teams to deliver hospital at home care for end of life patients, supporting people to die with dignity and in their own homes.”

Services provided by St Barnabas Hospice together cost over £9m a year.

The NHS gives some funding but the hospice also has to find its own cash.

Some 25 charity shops in Lincolnshire, including the one in North Street, Bourne, help to generate that
money.

Coun Ashwell said: “St Barnabas has been a personal interest of mine for some time.

“I volunteered in the shop for a number of years.

“And I have been able to use part of my grant to continue to support its work.

“They are thriving shops.

“They generate money for the hospice’s work and benefit from local people spending money here which they know will be spent on services for patients.”

Hospice at Home care is tailored to a patient’s specific needs.

The amount of care people receive depends on how those needs change over time.

St Barnabas also supports families and carers all over Lincolnshire, generally provided in its hospices.

Coun Ashwell is pictured handing over the ward member grant to Chris Wheway, chief executive of St Barnabas Hospice