Hospice eductor meets the Prime Minister
31 October 2014
A MEMBER of the Wigan and Leigh Hospice education team met David Cameron when she was invited to a reception at 10 Downing Street.
Monica McCahery and David Cameron. Credited to 'crown copyright'.
Monica McCahery, Associate Palliative Care Educator at the
Hindley-based hospice, spoke to the Prime Minister about hospice
care at the prestigious event which was attended by around 100
guests.
The event, which also welcomed Baroness Cumberlege and Health
Secretary Jeremy Hunt, was organised to acknowledge and give thanks
for the work of nurses, health care professionals and carers.
Monica said: "I wanted to speak to Mr Cameron about Hospice
funding so I stood in his way and we got talking. He looked at my
hospice badge and said that hospices do wonderful work. I agreed
and informed him that we currently have to raise £7,400 per day to
run the services at Wigan and Leigh Hospice and the fact that we do
is down to the goodwill of the community who keep on holding events
and donating.
"This is one of the most famous addresses in the world and it was
a magical experience to be invited. Although we were in very
opulent surroundings, 10 Downing Street was very homely and not
intimidating at all."
The Hospice education team develop and deliver training courses to
health care professionals including nurses, GPs and care home staff
from across the borough and further afield. By delivering training
courses the team aim to share the Hospice's specialist knowledge of
palliative care in order to improve care for people throughout the
community with a life-limiting illness.