Launched on International Nurses Day, Tuesday 12th May, the campaign recognises the vital role nurses and wider clinical teams play in supporting people with life-limiting illnesses, both in the hospice and out in the community.

This year’s International Nurses Day theme, “Our Nurses. Our Future. Empowered Nurses Save Lives”, highlights the life-saving impact of nursing and the importance of supporting nurses to work with skill, confidence, compassion and leadership.

At Foyle Hospice, specialist palliative care nurses with our wider medical teams are at the heart of that work, supporting patients, families and carers at some of the most difficult moments in life.

Ann Marie Casey, Director of Nursing at Foyle Hospice, said:

“Nursing is often described as caring, and of course it is, but it is also highly skilled, safety-critical work. Our nurses are making clinical decisions, managing complex symptoms, supporting families, working alongside GPs, district nurses, consultants and other health professionals, and helping people to have dignity, comfort and choice when it matters most.

“At Foyle Hospice, nursing is not only what happens at a bedside. It is a conversation in someone’s home. It is recognising when a patient’s condition is changing. It is helping a family understand what is happening. It is advocating for the person in front of us and making sure their needs are heard.

“International Nurses Day is a moment to recognise that nursing strengthens communities. When hospice nursing is supported, patients are better supported, families are better supported, and the wider health system is better supported.

“The Sponsor a Nurse campaign is not just about funding a role. It is about valuing the standard of care our community expects and deserves. It is about helping us protect specialist palliative care for today’s patients and making sure it is there for the people who will need us in the future.”

Foyle Hospice provides specialist palliative care and support for people living with life-limiting illnesses, as well as support for families and carers. Its nursing teams work across inpatient, community and specialist services, helping people receive care that is compassionate, professional and centred on their needs.

The new Sponsor a Nurse campaign asks supporters to consider making a regular monthly donation to help Foyle Hospice continue providing this care across the local area.

Kathleen Bradley, Fundraiser at Foyle Hospice, said:

“We know how much our community values the nurses and clinical staff at Foyle Hospice. So many families have seen first-hand the difference that kind, skilled and compassionate care can make.

“Sponsor a Nurse gives people a simple way to stand behind that care on a regular basis. Whether someone gives a small monthly amount or chooses to give more, every regular gift helps us plan ahead and continue supporting local patients and families.

“This campaign is about community. It is about local people helping local families, and showing our nurses that the work they do is seen, valued and supported.”

The launch comes at a time when nursing staff across the world are facing increasing pressure, with workforce challenges, rising demand and stretched health systems affecting care in many countries. Foyle Hospice says the message of International Nurses Day is deeply relevant locally: when nurses are supported, patients, families and communities benefit.

Ann Marie Casey added:

“Health and care systems are under pressure everywhere, but the answer cannot be to take nursing for granted. Nurses need to be supported, listened to and properly valued, because their work has a direct impact on patient safety and quality of care.

“Our hospice nurses bring knowledge, judgement and compassion into every interaction. They help people live as well as possible for as long as possible, and they support families through moments they may remember for the rest of their lives.

“That is why this campaign matters. It gives our community a way to say: we value this care, we value these nurses, and we want Foyle Hospice to be here for the next family who needs it.”

To support the Sponsor a Nurse campaign, visit: https://foylehospice.com/sponsor-a-nurse/