The Dove Hospice

8th February 2024 Dove Hospice   Martin Quilter

Martin has volunteered for Dove Hospice over the last 9 years, starting as a driver, but now responsible for maintenance, any electrical issues and also becoming a Trustee, since the takeover by LOROS.

Dove Hospice offers palliative care (relief from pain and symptoms) to patients and helping their families cope with the trauma, covering a 10-mile radius. Their nurse and therapist (massage, facials, reflexology, manicure and pedicure, bereavement counselling) try to help patients live as actively as possible, until the inevitable end.          All the attendees have a terminal illness and without residential facilities they can only offer a three-day service, 10 until 3pm, with three buses for transport. They have 34, mostly part-time staff and about 130 volunteers, providing lunches and various activities. Following their £357k extension in 2012 (funded by NHS England) their costs predicted for 2023/4 are £740k with a probable shortfall of £172k. They have three Charity shops in Cotgrave, Bottesford and Asfordby, plus the one above the tea room in Stathern, to help them raise funds, as well as running a 500 club lottery, as well as running a tea room from their Stathern base.

Various questions followed, mainly focused on the relationship with LOROS  followed by the Vote of Thanks from Duncan, who is a volunteer, together with Mary, Gerry S and Peter thanking Martin for his informative presentation, to which the members joined him with the usual round of applause            AR