Call us: 01202 477 628 | enquiries@macmillanlocal.org |

Author: Macmillan Local

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April 29, 2025

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of our charity we invited Dr Ronnie Fisher's daughters to visit our Hospice the Macmillan Unit (in the photo Debbie and Teresa sat with Trust Secretary Neal Williams).  Debbie and Teresa were last at the Macmillan Unit when they were much younger, and they remember with fondness and pride the hard work their father put into fundraising for, setting up and then running the Macmillan Unit - the first of its kind in the country, opening in 1974. We had a very pleasant morning sat in the Hospice garden sharing photographs, press cuttings and memories (the...

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April 8, 2025

Choir will look ‘high and low’ for new ‘Divas’ FUNDRAISING songstresses The Diamond Divas are looking to recruit some new members to their fun-loving ranks. Over the past 12 years, the Highcliffe-based choir’s performances have raised over £70,000 for Macmillan Caring Locally (MCL), the charity which supports the Macmillan Unit hospice at Christchurch Hospital. The ladies perform light-hearted music, usually adding a comic poem, in return for donations to the charity, and as well as appearing at care homes, clubs and churches across the area, have also entertained the crowds at MCL events including its Big Birthday Bash at Tuckton Tea Gardens last...

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February 12, 2025

As we approach Spring and hints of better weather, we are thrilled to announce a series of exciting events and challenges designed to bring our community together and raise vital funds for our cause. Whether you're an adrenaline junkie, a nature lover, or someone who enjoys a good cup of coffee, there's something for everyone. Here’s a sneak peek at what’s coming up: Car Boot Sale - 15 March 2025 Kick off the spring season by decluttering your home and finding hidden treasures at our Car Boot Sale. It's a fantastic opportunity to meet fellow supporters and contribute to a great cause. Skydive  For...

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January 15, 2025

Join us: Become a Trustee of Macmillan Caring Locally Are you passionate about making a difference in your community? Macmillan Caring Locally is looking for dedicated individuals to join our Board of Trustees. Based at the Macmillan Unit in Christchurch, Dorset, we are a small, registered charity committed to funding the Macmillan Unit at Christchurch Hospital—a Hospice, specialist palliative care ward, and centre of excellence. While we share the Macmillan name, we are not connected in any way to the national organisation Macmillan Cancer Support. Why Join Us? As a Trustee, you'll play a crucial role in shaping the future of our charity,...

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January 13, 2025

We have a vacancy for a full time Community and Events Fundraiser, to join our Charity team at the Macmillan Unit in Christchurch (BH23 2JX). Please click on the link below to download the job description and instructions for how to apply. Community and Events Fundraiser job description...

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September 18, 2024

A welder whose partner spent her final days in the Macmillan Unit at Christchurch Hospital has unveiled his third stunning artwork to be auctioned for the hospice. By day, Gary Smith from Bournemouth is an aerospace welder. But in his spare time, he runs Gary Smith Welded Art welding metal, including unwanted cutlery, into unique pieces for private and commercial clients. His latest work ‘New Beginnings’ is a three-piece sculpture featuring a host of butterflies covered in 24ct gold. It has been created for Macmillan Caring Locally (MCL), the charity which supports the Macmillan Unit and will be auctioned live at their annual...

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July 29, 2024

MCL welcomes three new trustees. Macmillan Caring Locally (MCL) has welcomed three new trustees. Dr. Karen Rees, Peter West and Ann Allen will help to drive the continued success of MCL, which has been supporting the Macmillan Unit, in the grounds of Christchurch Hospital, since 1974. [caption id="attachment_24650" align="alignleft" width="300"] left to right: Dr. Karen Rees, Mike Emsley (Chair of Trustees), Ann Allen and Peter West[/caption] Dr. Karen Rees is a Registered Nurse, District Nurse, and Health Visitor, and has worked locally as a practitioner and nurse academic for 30 years. An accomplished swimmer she has completed several ‘big’ swims to fundraise for the unit,...

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May 21, 2024

(This is an article published by the History of Anaesthesia Society in 1995. It records the history of the events leading up to the opening of the Macmillan Unit, and the pioneering work of our founder, Dr Ronald Fisher) Dr Ronald Fisher, Anaesthetist and Hospice pioneer by Dr M A Skivington, retired Consultant Anaesthetist, Royal Bournemouth Hospital Dr Ronald Albert Fisher was born on 3rd June 1917 and educated at Heversham School, Cumbria, Downing College Cambridge and the Middlesex Hospital, London, qualifying in 1943. He then became a Surgeon Lieutenant in the Royal Navy, first on convoy duties in the Western Approaches, then in Russian...

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January 26, 2024

Hospice launches Golden Anniversary with exciting fitness fundraiser ‘Attack for The Mac’. Fundraising for The Macmillan Unit’s 50th anniversary year got off to a strong start with a gruelling, five-hour, exercise class called ‘Attack for the Mac’. Over 80 brave participants took part in the event at The Village Hotel Bournemouth’s leisure club (on Saturday January 20th). Leanne Giddings is Community and Events Fundraiser for Macmillan Caring Locally, the charity which funds The Macmillan Unit based at Christchurch Hospital. She explained: “We are so grateful for the amazing support from The Village Hotel Bournemouth which is one of many local businesses to have signed...

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January 17, 2024

2024 heralds our 50th year of supporting the Macmillan Unit at Christchurch Hospital, and patients in our community. To celebrate we are encouraging local businesses, organisations, groups or clubs to register to be a Golden Partner. This essentially means adopting us as your charity of the year and working directly with our fundraising team. Together we can create fun and innovative ways to raise awareness and donations, to help us continue to provide specialist services in our community. We also have a full calendar of exciting events and activities for our Golden Partners to get involved with so please do not...

For further information about “Macmillan Caring Locally” please write to:

Neal Williams, Trust Secretary, Macmillan Caring Locally, The Macmillan Unit, Christchurch Hospital, Fairmile Road, Christchurch, Dorset, BH23 2JX

Email: neal@macmillanlocal.org

Macmillan Unit Ward at Christchurch Hospital

Patient Enquiries: 0300 019 5470

Charity office: 01202 477628

Fundraising enquiries: lin@macmillanlocal.org

Privacy Policy

Links

University Hospitals Dorset

Cruse Bereavement Care

Mosaic Family Support

West Christchurch Resident’s Association

inDorset

Phoenix Widowers Fellowship

fundraising regulator

Patient referrals to our service have tripled in the last ten years.The existing Macmillan Unit was built in 1974 and is now far too small for the number of people under our care. We have been setting aside funds to build a new Unit for many years. We have managed to raise £5m so far, but a new Unit is estimated at £9m.

Our patients receive the best possible care from our dedicated team of professionals and volunteers. Help us to provide them with the best possible facilities too.

Please help us in any way you can to reach this goal, so that we can start the build.

Help Us…

© 2025 Copyright Macmillan Caring Locally. All Rights Reserved. Registered Charity No. 1189412. Website Maintained by Rejuvenate IT.

List of pharmacies 

 Pharmacy name and address

Phone Number

100 hour pharmacy

 Locality

Asda Pharmacy

St Pauls Road, Bournemouth,BH8 8DL

01202 298900

Yes

Bournemouth East

Castle Lane Pharmacy
482 Castle Lane West Bournemouth, BH8 9UD

01202 772110

Yes

Bournemouth West

Ferndown Pharmacy
487 Ringwood Road, Ferndown, BH22 9AG

01202 892666

Yes

East Dorset

Tesco Extra Pharmacy
Yarrow Road, Mannings Heath Poole, BH12 4NX

01202 457447 or 01202 367447

Yes

Parkstone

Asda Pharmacy
West Quay Road, Poole, BH15 1JQ

01202 207000

Yes

Poole Central

Equipment – www.redcross.org.uk Is useful for wheelchairs and other equipment

Guide for people nearing end stage of life : https://intranet.rbch.nhs.uk/uploads/palliative/documents/What-to-Expect.pdf

Brief Drugs List for GPs

 

Pain/breathlessness:

Morphine sulphate 2.5-5mg SC PRN (10mg in 1ml injection)

(alternative if taking PO or eGFR<30 – Oxycodone 1 – 2.5mg SC PRN (10mg in 1ml injection))

[Please take background opioid into account when prescribing doses for anticipatories]

Anxiety/distress:

Midazolam 2.5-5mg SC PRN (10mg in 2ml injection)

Secretions:

Glycopyrronium 200mcg SC PRN (600mcg in 3ml injection)

(alternative for secretions: Hyoscine Butylbromide 20mg/ml injection)

Nausea :

Levomepromazine 6.25mg SC PRN (25mg in 1ml injection)

(alternative for nausea: Haloperidol 1.5mg SC PRN (5mg in 1ml injection)

Water for injection

Dexamethasone 3.3mg SC OD-BD (equivalent to 4mg PO) if risk of steroid withdrawal/Addisons during terminal phase.

Day/Time Example Timetable
Monday – AM

9am MMU Ward Hand over; 9:30am Tour of MMU

10m Consultant Ward Round, MMU
Monday – PM

12pm Ward Nurses – syringe driver administration (treatment room)

1:30 Nursing Handover – MMU (ward office)

MMU – Admission Assessment(s) with ward doctor
Tuesday – AM

9am Ward Hand over

9:20am Referrals Meeting on MMU

10am Community visiting with Specialist Nurse
Tuesday – PM

12:30 Journal Club – MMU (doctors office)

2pm Introduction to Patient and Family Support Team

3pm Introduction to Welfare and benefits Advisor
Wednesday – AM

9am Ward Hand over

9:20am Referrals Meeting on MMU

10am Consultant ward round – MMU
Wednesday – PM

2pm Doctor/Nurse Home Visit with Specialty Doctor
Thursday – AM

9:15am Multi-Disciplinary Team Meeting on MMU
Thursday – PM

2pm Introduction to Palliative Rehabilitation with Physiotherapist

3pm Introduction to Complex Discharge Planning in terminal illness
Friday – AM

Hospital Palliative Care Team Ward Visits
Friday – PM

2pm Introduction to Personalised Care Plan for the Last Days of Life with End of Life Care Nurse

4pm Debrief / sign off