Marie Curie Cancer Care

[Speicher]

In a way, I hope no one on here has needed the services of Marie Curie Cancer Care. Someone might have though. They might be able to tell me how good they are from the point of view of a patient.

They are apparently desperate for administrative staff at their offices near here. I am looking for work (unpaid while I get back into the mainstream of work). So I would like to know a bit more about them.

The advantages for me to approach them for work is that although I would need to travel by c*r, there is no parking fees. They are very flexible on the days you work, but usually the same each week. I also assume that they have some paid staff. After gaining experience there, I could look out for jobs coming up, within their organisation.

So what I would like to know, is have you had need of their services, and were they good, caring, supportive towards you or your relative or friend.
I have tried without success to ask friends and acquaintances this question. I hope it would not be too upsetting for someone to tell me more about them.

 

[Baggy]

A Marie Curie nurse helped to look after my Gran, who was nursed at home for a month (and helped my Mum to cope with all that was happening). She didn't once try to change my Gran's mind about going into a hospice or hospital, but was brisk, efficient and practical and the organisation itself was very helpful.

I'm afraid I can't really remember much more than that...

 

[marinyork]

Marie Curie Nurses are the other half of care from what MacMillian Nurses do, if that makes sense (that's in no way denigrating it at all). A neighbour had use of them a while back.

 

[Speicher]

Thank you Baggy and Marinyork. I realise it may be difficult to get a huge amount of info on them before, or if, starting with them. I think I may ask what help they need, and just do one afternoon a week, while I get an overall impression of them as an Organisation.

I have also enquired at the local Oxfam shop as to whether their Manager needs help in the office. That is within walking distance.

 

[marinyork]

They are specialist cancer nurses. They get out and about in the hospital and in the community visits (a lot). They are very well respected. If you ask about MacMillian Nurses you might get more of an answer as they are better known. Marie Curie ones do the help at home and stuff and terminal stuff whereas MacMillian Nurses are advice and visit orientated. If you are worrying about their motives/ethic I think you are worrying needlessly.

 

[tdr1nka]

My Mum was a part time receptionist at their Victoria head office.
She loved working for them.

 

[kyuss]

Unfortunately we've had to use their services 2 years ago when my gran was terminally ill.

They are absolutely fantastic. Really, I can't tell you how much they helped us (mum especially) when gran was ill. She had suffered with cancer for about 4 years, initially breast cancer which she told us had been cleared. Turned out that wasn't the case at all. It had spread to almost every part of her body, but she kept this all this to herself. We knew nothing about it until mum and dad got a call early one morning from her saying that she had been stuck in the chair for two days unable to move (stubborn bugger).

She spent 3 days in the Royal Infirmary initially (which mum hated as she'd seen her dad die in there just 1 year previously) but as soon as it was clear she was dying she was moved to the local Marie Curie hospice. It really was like a real home from home, for both mum and gran. The doctors and nurses were always very giving of their time, not like those we have come to expect in our average hospitals. They allowed gran to die painlessly, peacefully and dignified with her family around her (polar opposite of how grandad went). They helped mum quite a bit too, especially in coming to terms with the fact her mum had kept quiet about how bad the cancer had got. I think if it hadn't been for Marie Curie she would still be in a bit of a state about it all even now, as it is, she's happy it all happened the way it did.

 

[Speicher]

Thank you everyone so far for your positive comments. I am approaching this carefully. It sounds like they are a good organisation, as people suggest, and they will probably have good support for their staff and volunteers. I will keep you posted on any developments, but it may take time.

 

[Baggy]

Good luck!

 

[tdr1nka]

I should add that when my Mum worked for Marie Curie she was in her mid 50's and quite crippled with arthritis, the MC foundation were always very patient and flexible.

 

[Globalti]

Speicher, when you get round to admitting that you're actually a millionaire, could you spare a couple of grand?

Seriously though, it sounds like a worthy project.

 

[Speicher]

I would like to get used to working in an office, before trying for a permanent job. Why should I work in a "work experience" setting?
This might be a better way of approaching it. Marie Cure is desperate for admin people, so I could restart with them. My admin skills are fine, I just cannot imagine working in a high-pressure environment yet. As an unpaid member of staff, I would hope not to be under a lot of pressure, some pressure yes, and dedicated to the work needed to be done. Marie Curie get some assistance in their vital work, and I get accustomed to office work again. Everyone benefits.

The alternative - wait until the Employment office decide they could find me a "slot".?

 

[wafflycat]

I have acres/buckets/oodles of respect for those working in the respite/hospice care and nursing areas. My mother-in-law had a bit of dignity in her last weeks thanks to a hospice in Somerset. The difference in attitude of those nurses & doctors involved in that area of medicine compared to general NHS docs & nurses was amazing. It was as if the general NHS staff were unable to accept that someone's illness was terminal and as a result, were unable to acknowledge that the nursing & medical care required was different to that where a patient is going to recover. When in a normal hospital, my mother-in-law was effectively denied dignity and proper care - it was as if the staff didn't want to know. As soon as she was in a hospice, the change in attitude & care was amazing. All of a sudden the emphasis was on pain relief, and caring for the patient so she had dignity and a chance to come to terms with what was happening. And all funded by donations. IMO, organisations such as hospices, Macmillan nurses and Marie Curie Cancer Care deserve all the support they can get.

 

[ChrisKH]

No Marie Curie care in my area, when my Mum was terminally ill. Macmillan care was limited to pain relief and planned visits. It meant the family had to work round it so Mum could stay at home as long as possible. In the end she only had to spend three-four days in hospital before passing away and we know her personal wishes were not to go into hospital at all if she could help it. We really could have done with more help at home at that time.

 

[Kovu]

Marie Curie Nurses are the other half of care from what MacMillian Nurses do, if that makes sense (that's in no way denigrating it at all). A neighbour had use of them a while back.

I agree ... though a family friend had a MacMillian nurse and they weren't the most sensiable lot at times, but both do excellant work and I give huge respect to anyone who has worked/works there, must be a tough job at times.