The CEO of a Cumbrian hospice has shared how important it is that their work has been put in the spotlight by Janey Godley.
Val Stangoe, of St Mary's Hospice, appeared on BBC Radio 5 Live alongside Nicky Campbell to discuss advanced care planning.
This came after Janey, a Scottish comedian, shared on Wednesday, September 25 that she had entered end-of-life hospice care 'for the foreseeable'.
Val, who is stepping down as CEO next month after 11 years with St Mary's, used Janey's journey to highlight the crucial nature of palliative care and advanced planning.
Val said: "It's difficult to stay afloat - the whole thing about hospices is that we were set up as charitable organisations to be paid partly by the NHS, and the funds that have come from the State have tended for most hospices to stay static for many, many years.
"It has become financially harder to deliver a hospice service, but I think we all know that hospice services are really quite critical.
"They're really important when you need them and we need to find a way out of that financial difficulty."
Read more: Catherine Burn to lead St Mary’s Hospice from October | The Mail (nwemail.co.uk)
Janey has shared her journey across social media since being diagnosed with ovarian cancer in November 2021.
She posted this week to update her followers and to thank everyone who had provided her with care during these past few years.
Val added: "What we have to look at is what hospices do that would end up in hospitals if they weren't done by hospices.
"We're all part of a jigsaw - the NHS does some really critical things that we all need, but they should only be doing those things and we need find ways to do the other stuff in other places."
The team at St Mary's also took the time to share a message for Janey, joining the thousands of well wishes that have come worldwide.
A spokesperson said: "Everyone at St Mary's sends love and best wishes to Janey, her family and friends, those who are caring for her, and everyone affected by life limiting illness."
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