Nusrat Ghani, MP for Sussex Weald, visited the Five Ashes site of Hospice in the Weald, to learn more about the recent reopening of inpatient services and upgraded facilities.
Hospice in the Weald provides free, high-quality care to adults and children with life-limiting conditions in East Sussex and west Kent. Their services include inpatient care, outreach and advice for people in their own homes, and emotional and practical support to help people live as well as possible for however long that might be. Hospice in the Weald runs 29 charity shops, including shops in Mayfield, Heathfield, and Crowborough, and a furniture store in Five Ashes.
The Hospice in Fives Ashes opened in 2019 and was supported by Nusrat, who is also a Patron of the charity. Since then, the site has since provided compassionate support for hundreds of families.
Inpatient services were temporarily closed last year due to staff shortages, but they have now successfully reopened, along with improvements to support those with more complex health needs.
During the visit, Nusrat toured the building and was pleased to meet staff, volunteers and those cared for at Five Ashes Hospice in the Weald, and learn more about further plans for the Hospice’s transformation programme, which includes major refurbishment of the Pembury site and the creation of a centre for children and young people in Five Ashes.
Nusrat also placed a dedicated star on the Hospice’s Light up a Life memorial Christmas tree, as part of an event to remember and celebrate the lives of loved ones over the festive season.
For more information and to support the charity, visit: www.hospiceintheweald.org.uk.
Nusrat Ghani said: “Hospice in the Weald is a fantastic local charity and I am proud to have been supporting them for many years since my first election as the local MP in 2015. They are a valuable source of support for adults and children facing life-limiting and life-threatening conditions and I am pleased that following successful staff recruitment and upgraded facilities, the Five Ashes site is now extending its free palliative care to support patients with more complex health needs. I would like to thank the leadership and all the staff and volunteers at the Five Ashes site for providing the best possible personalised and compassionate care for all patients and their families.”
Nick Farthing, Chief Executive at Hospice in the Weald, said: “We were delighted to welcome Nusrat Ghani MP to see the impact of our care and recent improvements at Five Ashes. It was heartening to showcase how our teams work tirelessly to provide free, compassionate specialist support to patients and their families and to share our vision for developing our services even further.”
Pictured above:
- Nusrat Ghani MP with Kerry Norman, Head of Inpatient Care, Nick Farthing Chief Executive, Mirelle Cassidy, Associate Director of Children's & Young People's Service and Sarah Bowes, Head of Public Fundraising, Hospice in the Weald
- Nusrat Ghani MP adds a star to the Light up a Life memorial tree
- Nusrat Ghani MP with patient Pauline Pullen
All photos © Hospice in the Weald
