Hospice award is from Lithuanians
STAFF from St Ann’s Hospice were honoured to receive special recognition for their work supporting clinical and medical colleagues in Lithuania.
The hospice was visited by Tom Macan, a former British Ambassador to Lithuania, and Peter Howe and Wendy Howe from BritishLithuanian charity the Tiltas Trust, who presented staff with a letter confirming the prestigious award of Honorary Membership of the British Lithuanian Society.
Eamonn O’Neal, chief executive of St Ann’s, said: “It’s a privilege for St Ann’s to receive this recognition for the work staff here have done to help colleagues in Lithuania further develop their palliative care service provision for local people.
“St Ann’s has been delivering specialist care to patients with cancer and other life-limiting illnesses for almost half a century, and we’re always happy to share the knowledge and expertise that has come with that experience with others.
“We’re extremely proud of our strong links with Lithuania, and thank the British Lithuanian Society for recognising our work in this way.”
Thanks to the generosity of the Tiltas Trust, St Ann’s staff have been able to visit Lithuania on several occasions, and in turn host visits from staff from the country too.
Tom Macan, Tiltas Trust chairman, said: “As the Trust has become increasingly involved in helping the palliative care community in Lithuania, St Ann’s has become a key partner in this work.
“Building on the visits made in both directions, St Ann’s staff and their Lithuanian counterparts have developed an ongoing and supportive relationship which is of huge benefit as the Lithuanian palliative care sector develops, to meet the country’s very real needs. This Honorary membership of the BritishLithuanian Society is a modest way of saying ‘Thank you’ for St Ann’s generosity.”
Recently, St Ann’s medical director, Dr Philip Lomax, and clinical services manager, Siân Burgess, were invited to speak at the International Palliative Care Conference in Lithuania, and to visit medical centres in the country.
Earlier this year, the hospice also received a visit from Her Excellency Ms Asta Skaisgiryte, Ambassador of Lithuania to the UK, who attended St Ann’s Little Hulton site to find out more about the specialist palliative care the charity provides.