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
The service launched as a trial in April 2024 and is entirely reliant on charitable donations. While feedback from patients and families has been overwhelmingly positive, the service has previously faced uncertainty due to funding — highlighting the importance of continued community support to ensure it can continue.
Since launching, the service has supported over 130 patients, helping them remain at home, surrounded by familiar comforts and loved ones, at the end of their lives.
The programme was initially made possible thanks to a donation from Cheerbrook Farm Shop, given in memory of Andrew Shufflebotham, who was a co-owner and director of the business. That donation enabled Mid Cheshire Hospitals Charity to commission highly experienced therapists from St Luke’s Hospice, allowing patients across Mid Cheshire to access these therapies at home for the first time.
The service was developed following an idea from Nantwich Community Nursing teams, recognising that many people at the end of their lives wish to stay at home wherever possible.
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
Cheerbrook is once again raising funds to support the service, which provides comfort, calm and reassurance to patients in their final weeks by offering therapies such as Indian Head Massage, Reflexology, Reiki and therapeutic touch in their own homes.
Sarah Shufflebotham, Director of Cheerbrook Farm Shop, said: “Continuing to fundraise for this service is incredibly important to all of us at Cheerbrook. The care, compassion and support shown by the district nursing team to Andrew, to me and to our family during the hardest time of our lives is something we will never forget. Supporting this service feels like a way of saying thank you —and of helping ensure other families can receive the same kindness, comfort and dignity, at home, when they need it most.”
Emma Robertson, Head of Mid Cheshire Hospitals Charity, said: “This service reflects exactly what our Charity exists to do — enhancing care beyond NHS provision through compassion, insight and community support.
“Seeing Cheerbrook support this service again, rooted in love and remembrance, is incredibly special.”
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
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How can you help?
We now urgently need to raise funds to enable the service to continue throughout 2026. 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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