We want to tell you about an important appeal from our Inpatient Unit at Earl Mountbatten Hospice.
 
Demand on the Unit has risen rapidly. We expect to be caring for 40 per cent more patients this year than last. This is unprecedented and is stretching our resources to the limit.
 
The good news is we have been able to increase the Unit’s beds from 12 to 16. But it is only part of the solution.
 
We still need to raise funds to replace and upgrade essential medical equipment, and we are appealing to you as a valued supporter for help.
 
Right now our Inpatient Unit urgently needs two Alternating Pain Therapy Mattresses at a cost of £3,375 each (£6,750 in total) to replace older versions, including one that is 16 years old!
 
We can hear you asking “How on earth can a mattress cost so much?”

High quality, long lasting medical equipment is expensive and this is a reality we have to accept. We constantly do careful research to find the products that give the best possible value, and these mattresses are tried and tested in palliative care inpatient units, where people often need intensive, round the clock care.
 
The alternating pressure mattresses help to prevent and heal pressure sores and, together with medication, provide relief from pain, especially severe bone pain.
 
This is particularly important to patients with long term conditions such as motor neurone disease or to people with advanced illnesses who may be very frail and have complex pain control needs.
 
Comfort, freedom from pain and a good night’s sleep…

At Earl Mountbatten Hospice one of our main aims is to enhance the wellbeing of our patients to help them to live well until they die. Some of our inpatients are able to get out and about but many are bed bound which means that they are, literally, living in their beds. It also means that the comfort and relief from pain these special mattresses deliver is vitally important.
 
Your donation today of £15, or whatever amount you can afford, will help our patients to find calm, peace and comfort at the end of their lives.

On behalf of our patients and their families, thank you.