Lewis-Manning Hospice Care holds ‘inspirational and uplifting’ Visiting Professor Lecture on the Future of Palliative and End of Life Care

Lewis-Manning Hospice Care (LMHC), in association with The Centre for Wellbeing and Long-Term Health at Bournemouth University, hosted its Visiting Professor Lecture on Wednesday, 5th February 2025.

The event, which took place at the Wolfson Lecture Theatre at Bournemouth University, focused on the critical issues surrounding Palliative and End of Life Care, with expert speakers offering insights into the future of services, education, research, and the ongoing challenges faced by patients and healthcare professionals alike.

The lecture featured headline speaker, Professor Bee Wee CBE, former National Clinical Director for End-of-Life Care at NHS England, and a leading figure in Palliative Medicine. Professor Wee delivered a keynote address on the Future of Palliative and End of Life Care, exploring the evolution of these services, key challenges in the field, and potential solutions to address health inequalities. As a Consultant in Palliative Medicine at Sobell House and Katharine House Hospice, as well as a Visiting Professor at Bournemouth University, Professor Wee brings extensive expertise to the topic.

In addition to Professor Wee’s lecture, the event also featured a variety of impactful presentations, including:

• Clare Gallie, CEO of Lewis-Manning Hospice Care, who provided a welcome address and shared the impact of the charity services helping over 1,000 local Dorset people a year with services at home, in local hubs and virtually, education programmes, PhD research and nursing scholarships. The importance of supporting the NHS by preventing avoidable hospital admissions and GP contacts and the work that Lewis-Manning is doing to achieve this was detailed. As was the clear vision to work in partnership and collaboration with local Dorset end of life providers and local charities now and into the future.
• Cathy Beresford, LMHC PhD scholar, presented findings from her research on Experiences of Care in Advanced Liver Disease, shedding light on the lived experiences of patients and families in this area.
• A panel interview with nursing students participating in the LMHC Scholarship Programme was moderated by Professor Bee Wee. The students shared their insights into the challenges and significant rewards of this scholarship and pursuing a career in end-of-life care.
• Professor Sam Porter and Dr Duncan Randall from the Centre for Wellbeing and Long-Term Health discussed their ongoing work in improving the quality of care for people with long-term health conditions and exciting initial plans to undertake further work with Lewis-Manning in this area.

The event concluded with closing remarks from Clare Gallie, CEO of LMHC, who thanked attendees and participants for their contributions and engagement and offered an invitation to those in the room, including healthcare professionals and other hospice charities to work more closely together for the benefit of those people at end of life in east Dorset and Purbeck.

The event was described by senior figures in healthcare who attended as ‘Inspirational and Uplifting’.

Clare Gallie, CEO of Lewis-Manning Hospice Care, said: “We are delighted to have hosted this important event, which brings together some of the brightest minds in Palliative and End of Life Care. The future of this field is vital, not only for patients but for the healthcare system as a whole. It has been wonderful to share insights, discuss the challenges that we face in the sector, and collectively explore ways to improve care for those who need it most through partnership and collaboration.”

The event was generously funded by The Centre for Wellbeing and Long-Term Health and Ferndown based business, Superior Seals and was attended by professionals and stakeholders from across the healthcare sector, including those directly involved in palliative and end-of-life care.