10 supporters are talking about petitions related to Isle of Wight!
I want to countinue to be able, to cast my vote to have a say, & to be safe in knowing, that our Island remains, an independent County.
The Island has been long known, for its independence yet friendly approach, to our counterparts on the Mainland, & we will countinue to do so, but independence is very important.
It's part of our DNA here on the Island, we appreciate that times are harder, & are changing to those conditions, but having something as radical as this, could change our Island, to the point of no return.
A hope many people will sign this petition, & as they sign it, people must think on & realise do they want our Island, to countinue as it has done, or radically change at a alarming rate.
We were fortunate to get a place at one of the AIM Autistic Anxiety series of Workshops in 2023. Coming to the Workshops gave me a safe space to begin my journey of properly seeing and learning about my son as an autistic young person. I observed that over the course of the 6 workshops my son was slowly being to relax and open up a bit. From not being able to leave the house, he began to look forward to our visits to the Autism Zone at AIM. On the course we both benefited from hearing the first-hand experiences of the autistic adults leading the workshop. I was grateful for the chance to borrow books for parents of autistic children, and my son tried out equipment from the AIM lending library.
This hospice is fantastic & provides so much for islanders in end if life care, without this wonderful resource we will be enduring more time in hospital both on the island & mainland - which brings its own extreme difficulties!!
Mountbatten is vital to so many! They helped my dad and in my eyes every single member of staff are angels! They need help, please don’t remove their funding!
The end of life care my mum recieved here in comparison to the hospital was amazing. The staff were kind and the atmosphere and surroundings peaceful in an awfully stressfull time. To cut funding to such a crucial service would be criminal.
To have this cut to a much needed service on the island would be devastating. Having experienced the amazing end of life care the hospice provided for my Mum when the time came, my heart breaks that so many other families will be missing out. Having worked in the care sector for over 40 years I can honestly say there really is no other place like our hospice!
I’ve been helping charities for free to successfully receive funding to reduce food poverty plus other community projects when they wouldn’t have otherwise and wouldn’t be able to keep operating. It started off at 1-2 charities and now it’s over 13 due to demand. Unfortunately with healthcare it’s not universal grants which is why it is so important for them to receive funding. The services that Mountbatten provide give care, compassion, dignity, respect and love to patients with cancer, end of life care and their families at extremely difficult time of their lives. They often feel vulnerable, frail, weak and clutch onto whatever hope they can get. Patients have difficult choices to make in their last days of life and want to create some joy, pleasant moments with their loved ones. They need to be listen and cared too and so do their families . They provide such vital services. A nurse listen to make sure the patient and families needs were met. A nurse gave some comfort and reduced pain in someone’s last hours. A nurse gave some support to a family after their loss so that they could get closure. A lady facilitated a bereavement session so that loved ones could expressed themselves creativity and honour their loved ones. A member of staff provided therapeutic art to patients so that their days were a little brighter. Please do not forget about Mountbatten. They have a hospice on the island so it’s accessible for patients who don’t need the additional worries or stress of traveling and get to spend what precious time they have with loved ones. Loved ones can visit daily without worrying about the financial costs or time it takes to travel. Patients and loved ones have time to create precious moments and leave fond memories. On the island there is a high amount of elderly and frail people living here plus other age groups who have cancer. Please consider giving them the funds that they very much need to keep the place operating. The staff do a wonderful job, it’s not just a job but a passion. I have worked in healthcare myself, end of live qualifications and experience so know how important it is too help.
Islanders need Mountbatten! I am a Stage 4 cancer patient and I use Mountbatten services all the time. The staff know me, their care is exemplary and when the time comes I want to be able to be looked after by Mountbatten in my final days. I want my family and friends to be able to easily visit me and not have to go to the mainland. These proposed funding cuts are not acceptable. Come on Islanders - add your voice.
Some facts and this is why I care
Mountbatten Isle of Wight hospice is only partly funded. The Hampshire Isle of Wight integrated care board (ICB) are responsible for allocating that partial funding.
In the present funding contract which is about to expire the proportion of funding was 33.333333% ( in real terms less over the years due to rising running and wages) cuts drop that to 20%.
The ICB’s mission statement is
‘to support people live healthier lives for longer and WHEN THEY BECOME ILL TO HAVE BETTER ACCESS TO THE RIGHT CARE IN THE RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME
Mountbatten Isle of Wight have 16 ‘beds’ which are individual en suite that give the dying and their relatives the best possible environment. In addition over 600 more are visited in the community daily
In addition there is ongoing support both medical and psychological within the building be it one of the various clinics including physiotherapy, care of those with life limiting conditions which also gives some respite for their careers, bereavement services both one to one or groups ( these include children) and treatment for lymphodemia
(which I believe is the only facility for this on the island.) to name but a few.
According to the 2021 census the population of the island was 140,400 21.5% of those being over 70
The island health service is over stretched. Mountbatten services are saving them money. Any cut back on mountbatten services would have a knock on effect on the hospital, gp’s mental health and social care.
Mountbatten are focussed on palliative care and the dying physically and emotionally. I cannot see why the ICB feel this is not so.
Incidentally all of the ICB board live in Hampshire and Hampshire hospices have received increased funding.!!! I don’t argue that they don’t need it