THE Macmillan and Hillingdon Hospital palliative care team have been praised for their hard work and dedication supporting hospital staff and end-of-life patients throughout the pandemic. 

To mark Dying Matters Awareness Week, Macmillan Cancer Support CEO Lynda Thomas commended the team for going above and beyond in difficult times.

As well as their normal role of ensuring patients are comfortable and treated with dignity, respect and compassion, they also supported staff in having difficult conversations with families and loved ones.

The dedicated five-person team consists of three Macmillan Cancer Support professionals, Mark Troup, Lorraine Barton and Liz Bunker, plus nurses Leanne Bainbridge and Carolyn Taylor.

The team also suffered a personal bereavement, losing a colleague during the pandemic.

Lorraine said: “Everyone has a role to play in ensuring a person has a good and peaceful death.

“It’s hugely rewarding to be able to make someone feel reassured and comfortable in their final stages, which is vital, and it’s an honour to be there for such an intimate part of every person’s life.”

CEO Lynda Thomas added: “The Hillingdon Hospital palliative care team are a key example of how Macmillan and NHS health professionals up and down the country have continued to go above and beyond to do everything they can to support patients, including those living with cancer.”