Cornwall Hospice Care Celebrates National Success at Prestigious Awards

Photo: A group shot of all the Cornwall Hospice Care nominees, from left to right, Tracey Davey (Community Services Officer), Mike Thomas (Education), Lisa Shephard (Clinical Lead), Lianne Best (Lymphoedema Specialist Practitioner), Helen Treleaven (Therapies and Community Services Manager and Lymphoedema Specialist), Jo Elrick (Education), Jo Smith (Education and Training Lead), Claire Collings (Education) and Siobhan Aris (Advanced Nurse Practitioner). 

Cornwall Hospice Care staff have received national recognition for their exceptional work at the inaugural ‘Palliative and End of Life Care Awards’ held in London.

Ten members of the healthcare charity’s team were shortlisted as finalists at the prestigious event hosted by Good Morning Britain TV personality Kate Garraway.

The awards celebrate individuals, organisations, and charities that provide high-quality end-of-life and palliative care, aiming to ensure a Good Life and a Good Death for all. Lisa Shephard, Cornwall Hospice Care’s Clinical Lead, expressed pride in the team’s achievements, saying, “It says a great deal about the expertise and commitment of our charity’s teams that we were finalists in three categories of these new awards. I appreciate the very high standard of care we provide, but it’s good to see this being recognised at a national level. I congratulate all our nominees and finalists and am delighted to see so many of our amazing team being highlighted.”

Photo: Siobhan Aris, winner of the Excellence in Palliative Care Nursing (not for profit) Award with Kate Garraway from ITVs Good Morning Britain and TV and Radio broadcaster Neev Spencer.

Outstanding Recognition in Multiple Categories

Cornwall Hospice Care staff were finalists in three categories, an extraordinarily high number for a small one-county charity. The charity’s Education Team, led by Jo Smith, was a finalist in the Palliative Care Team Award. Helen Treleaven, Therapies and Community Services Manager and Lymphoedema Specialist, was shortlisted in the Palliative Care Manager category, and Siobhan Aris, Advanced Nurse Practitioner, was a finalist in the Excellence in Palliative Care Nursing (not for profit) Award.

Siobhan Aris Wins Excellence Award

Siobhan Aris won the Excellence in Palliative Care Nursing (not for profit) Award, presented by Kate Garraway. The award brochure highlighted Siobhan’s dedication to personalised care and advanced communication, stating, “Siobhan is tenacious in the delivery of personalised care of complex symptom management and advanced communication, ensuring patients and families receive personalised care and advance care planning. Alongside, enabling colleagues and systems through leadership, service development, advanced practise, education, and research across all care settings.”

Siobhan remarked, “The awards are both a celebration and recognition of Palliative and End of Life Care nationally, the collaborative representation from Cornwall and the South West was exciting, the award, a surprise and very humbling.”

Education Team’s Dedication to Compassionate Care

The Education Team of Cornwall Hospice Care, comprising eight staff members, was recognised as a finalist for The Palliative Care Team (not for profit) Award. The event programme praised the team for their dedication to enhancing person-centred care through compassionate palliative and end-of-life education, stating, “Collectively they bring a wealth of experience, specialised knowledge and a passion for improving the quality of life for patients and their loved ones who are at the heart of what the charity does.”

Helen Treleaven’s Commitment to Community Services

Helen Treleaven was a finalist for the Palliative Care Manager Award, managing Cornwall Hospice Care’s Community Services team, which provides pre- and post-bereavement services. Helen also continues her work as a Lymphoedema Specialist, providing treatment for individuals struggling with lymph-related conditions.

Cornish Healthcare Providers Also Recognised

Other Cornwall-based healthcare providers were also shortlisted as finalists. The Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Palliative and End of Life Care Strategic Alliance was a finalist for The Integrated Care Systems Award, and Kath Rooksby, Saskie Dorman, and Andy Brogan (NHS England South West) were finalists for The Best Influencer and Campaigner Award.

A Night to Remember in London

Attending the award ceremony in London last Friday night, 28th June 2024, and representing Cornwall Hospice Care were Siobhan Aris, Jo Smith and her team of Hayley Shields, Mike Thomas, Claire Collings and Jo Elrick, Helen Treleaven, Lianne Best (Lymphoedema Specialist Practitioner), Tracey Davey (Community Services Officer) and Lisa Shephard.

Cornwall Hospice Care is a 24/7 Cornish healthcare charity that provides end-of-life support for people with terminal illnesses. Their clinical staff and volunteers care for patients and their families, carers, and friends at Mount Edgcumbe Hospice in St Austell, St Julia’s Hospice in Hayle, through their Community Services, and where appropriate, in people’s own homes and in local care homes.

This recognition underscores the outstanding commitment and expertise of Cornwall Hospice Care in delivering compassionate and high-quality palliative care.

Photo: Siobhan with her winner’s certificate, picture taken by colleague Jo Smith.