Author: Macmillan Local

(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...

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...

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...

Hundreds of swimmers are expected to attend this year's annual Christmas Day Dip at Boscombe for the Macmillan Unit hospice in Christchurch - including the newborn grandson of the man who inspired the event. John White VI was born on December 8th and is the son of the Dip’s co-founder, also John White. John and his cousin Tommy Baker came up with the idea for the Dip in 2008. The pair, both keen swimmers, wanted to raise money for the Macmillan Unit hospice as John’s father, also called John, was successfully treated for cancer. The very first Dip saw John and Tommy joined by...

https://youtu.be/9Z2FDj-IMSI MND Study Day On November 17th, Jane Martin, MND Nurse Specialist and the MMU MND Team , provided a Dorset Wide Study Day on Motor Neurone Disease at the Marsham Court Hotel, Bournemouth. . The day was attended by 120 health and social care professionals from across Dorset & Hampshire to improve both management & support from diagnosis to end of life for people with MND locally. The day was supported by both MacMillan caring Locally and the East Dorset & New Forest MNDA. Subjects covered diagnosis and symptoms, swallowing difficulties, respiratory support , environmental controls developments, psychological care and the difficult...

An annual golf tournament set up by the family of a young woman who died of leukaemia has now raised over £150k for our charity. Sarah Green, from Ferndown, was just 31 years old when she passed away in 2003. Sarah spent her final days at the Macmillan Unit at Christchurch Hospital. To celebrate her life and the care she received, her family and friends set up The Sarah Green Memorial Golf Tournament, which this year marked its 20th year. Sarah’s brother Anthony Rogers is the driving force behind the event, which is held at Christchurch Golf Club each September. He said: “The tournament brings...

Social worker, Barbara Parker from the Macmillan Unit has been shortlisted for the Children’s Social Worker of the Year accolade in recognition of her ‘extraordinary practice’.  Barbara Parker is a specialist palliative care social worker based in the Macmillan Unit at Christchurch Hospital. She works closely with children and young people whose parent or caregiver is receiving end of life care and continues to support the child in bereavement. The Social Worker of the Year Awards recognise and celebrate the challenging work that qualified social workers do every day, and Barbara was nominated by her colleagues. One of six finalists, she will...

Lisa Wetton, Dylan Wetton, and QEDG Management hosted a memorial concert in memory of John Wetton (King Crimson, Family, Roxy Music, Uriah Heep, Wishbone Ash, UK, Asia) on August 3rd, 2023 at Trading Boundaries in East Sussex.   Although this was a private event the Wetton Family were delighted to invite John’s loyal fans to be part of this very special evening by enjoying the concert via a live stream. The event saw friends and family of the late lead singer and guitarist gather together to celebrate the life of this extraordinary musician.  An all-star line-up of legends, who were friends and collaborators of Wetton’s, performed songs from throughout his...

Macmillan Caring Locally is recruiting new Trustees for its Board Macmillan Caring Locally is a small, registered charity based at the Macmillan Unit in Christchurch Dorset. Our primary aim is to provide funding for the Macmillan Unit at Christchurch Hospital, which is a Hospice, a specialist palliative care ward and a centre of excellence. Although we share the Macmillan name, we are in fact not connected in any way to the national organisation Macmillan Cancer Support. We are looking for experienced members of the public to join our Board as Trustees. We are particularly keen to recruit members of our local community...

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