THIS week is Hospice Care Week, an annual campaign to raise the profile of hospice care across the UK. I’m writing to ask your readers to take time to learn more about the role that hospice care plays in their local community.

This year’s theme is ‘Hospice Care Is…’ and during the week the many and varied aspects of hospice care, and what it can mean to people, their families and communities will be highlighted.

I am proud to be a Vice-President of our local provider of hospice care, Bolton Hospice, and the ‘Hospice Care Is…’ theme has encouraged me to reflect on what hospice care means to me.

My mother Glenys received excellent care from Bolton Hospice but so did we, the relatives. I will be forever grateful that my amazing mum was able to spend her last days at the hospice with dignity and respect.

Bolton Hospice:

•Cares for around 750 people with cancer and other life-limiting illnesses such as heart disease or neurological disorders every year

•Places the highest value on dignity, respect, and the wishes of the person who is ill, providing an individual level of care not usually provided elsewhere

•Looks after all the patient’s needs, as well as the needs of the person's loved ones

•Provides a range of services such as outpatient clinics, a hospice at home service, lymphoedema clinic, physiotherapy, creative therapy and education & training for healthcare professionals.

Patients and families never have to pay for care and support provided by the hospice, but an ageing population means there is an ever-increasing demand for Bolton Hospice’s services

Currently the hospice’s annual running costs are around £4.2 million and due to a shortfall in government funding, £3.2 million of this must be generated in local fundraising and donations – this equates to a staggering £8,800 every day.

Everything that Bolton Hospice does is only possible because of the support of the local community and the dedication of hundreds of skilled staff and volunteers.

I’d like to invite your readers to join me in sharing their thoughts and experiences of what hospice care is to them and show their support on social media during Hospice Care Week, tweeting @boltonhospice with the #hospicecareis hashtag.

Thank You

Maxine Peake

Vice-President

Bolton Hospice