Community Complementary Therapy Service
We urgently need to raise funds to ensure this service continues to support people nearing the end of life at home
End of Life Care Appeal
When someone is cared for in hospital or at home at the end of their life, we only have one chance to get it right. Our NHS staff are dedicated to making sure that people are comfortable, comforted and have as many of their wishes met during the last days and hours and make sure that their loved ones are taken care of too.
The SWAN end of life and bereavement model of care has been introduced across our hospitals and within our community services to help ensure that everybody receives the best possible care from the NHS at the end of their life. MCH Charity has worked closely with clinical teams to identify ways in which we, with your help, can have the most impact on patients and their loved ones throughout this difficult time.
The appeal is supporting numerous projects both within hospital and within our community services which includes the Community Complementary Therapy Service.
Community Complementary Therapy Service
Since April 2024, through funding raised by local farm shop, Cheerbrooks, we have been funding a complementary therapy service for people nearing the end of life and for their loved ones at home.
This very special service has since supported almost 100 people and feedback from patients and their families has been exceptional.
Therapies include “HEARTS” (Hands on, Empathy, Aromas, Relaxation, Textures, Sound) reflexology, and Indian head massage.
Just some of the wide ranging benefits of the therapy include:
- assisting in the reduction of anxiety and low mood
- improving sleep
- supporting with pain management
- helping to promote calmness at end of life
- supporting people with dementia that respond well to touch
The service was initially made possible thanks to funds raised by Cheerbrook Farm Shop in Nantwich in memory of Cheerbrook founder Andrew Shufflebotham.
Over several years the team at Cheerbrook raised an incredible £20,000 which enabled the charity to provide the funding needed to set up the service to treat patients in their own homes for the first time.
Sarah Shufflebotham, director of Cheerbrook, said: “It was vital for Andrew that he could stay at home so we could be together as a family, enjoying time with our children and outdoors in the garden.”
The programme, which is operated by the Community District Nursing Team and is supported with therapists from St Luke's Hospice, started in April 2024 and feedback from recipients has been incredibly positive.
Comments from patients include:
A gentleman who enjoyed Reflexology which he described as “nice and soothing” and which “warmed my feet up for days”.
Another patient added: “I was able to totally relax and not worry about anything. For one hour, I felt totally normal and felt I could switch off from my medical situation.”
Speak to us about getting involved today so we can make a difference tomorrow.
Call us: 01270 273248
Email: charity@mcht.nhs.uk
Let's get social - find us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn @mchcharity
Donate to support the Complementary Therapy Service
Join us on Friday 14 February to raise funds for the service by wearing pink or red and donating £2 (or more if you can!).
How can you help?
We now urgently need to raise funds to enable the service to continue throughout 2025. Without this funding the service will close before the end of the year.
If you are able to support the appeal, either by making a one off donation, by becoming one of our regular donors, or by doing your own fundraising, we would love to speak to you.
We can provide support and resources such as t-shirts, collection buckets, help with setting up online giving pages and much more.
Contact us by email or phone, details above.
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