Gemma Allen (she/her)

Yesterday’s view from my hotel in Leith and today’s from Liverpool.

Feeling ready and inspired for day one of the @hospiceuk.bsky.social Conference.

#HUK2025

Then it’s a quick hop tomorrow evening onto another train 🚆 to Liverpool for the @hospiceuk.bsky.social Conference where Jed will be presenting some of the findings from our study ‘Just ask me’

Looking forward to a connecting with friends & colleagues!

Who else will be there?

#PalliativeCare

All packed ready to head up to Edinburgh later today🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Looking forward to delivering @nobarriershere.bsky.social training with @jedjerwood.bsky.social in Leith tomorrow. Thank you to Helen MacGregor at @mariecurieuk.bsky.social & @goodlifedeathgrief.bsky.social for the invitation & support.

1/2

I like the Rowan berries too! 😍😍

…off I head to Etsy!

"And there it was again, the messy table: glue sticks, paper, laughter, tears, and the brave beauty of people sharing what matters most. These workshops are never tidy, but they are always real."

A blog from Bridget Corneil, a No Barriers Here facilitator 🇨🇦
www.nobarriershere.org/messy-table-...

This report on the financial sustainability of adult hospices in England paints a sobering but not an unexpected picture.

It highlights the persistent inequities in access to #palliative and #EoLc across the country…a postcode lottery that continues to fail too many people.

Saturday morning spent writing conference abstracts (last-minute deadline panic) but enjoyable and reflective.

6 months in and my new role has been both challenging and rewarding. It has presented opportunities to learn and grow, and I’m grateful for the experiences, lessons and trust placed in me.

After the pause of the weekend, stepping into a new week is a chance to carry forward what matters most (instead of what is loudest) and think about the week ahead.

Mondays can often feel like a sprint 🏃‍♀️ and rushing through a to-do list, so today I’m reminding myself where to spend my energy!

End of life planning toolkit for people with a learning disability An end of life planning toolkit for people with a learning disability, that includes easy read guides and picture cards about funerals and illness.

Like @nobarriershere.bsky.social the cards are a great tool to support inclusive & equitable discussions.

And even better… @kingstonuniversity.bsky.social & @mariecurieuk.bsky.social have collaborated to provide a FREE print & deliver service! 👇

www.mariecurie.org.uk/help/support...

2/2

Yesterday, I received my toolkit from the @victstuproject.bsky.social

It was a privilege to be part of this study & see the publication of these resources. These are now in place with our hospice Day Service, IPU & Community Engagement teams to support accessible #EoLC planning conversations 1/2

No Barriers Here' Facilitator Training shares arts-based methods and less verbal approaches to open up meaningful conversations. It is designed to help you support more people to be included, heard and supported when planning for their future care.
www.nobarriershere.org/facilitator-...

Join me & @jedjerwood.bsky.social for @nobarriershere.bsky.social Facilitator Training - Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

📆 Monday 24th November

⏰ 09:30 - 16:30

📌 Edinburgh, EH6 7EZ

Register: www.nobarriershere.org/facilitator-...

@mariecurieuk.bsky.social @goodlifedeathgrief.bsky.social @mshospice.bsky.social

Absolutely recognition is key & there’s lots more to do in terms of education.

NBH offers a public health approach to pall care (often with people who are well) with early conversations, community awareness/engagement & creating spaces for people to explore their wishes.

Sorry one more! People need clear, accessible information about how to access services.

But the real deficit lies within the services themselves.

We need to engage meaningfully & listen to our communities, welcome referrals & feedback to continually improve how we address & remove barriers to care

Ensuring individuals (inc professionals and community workers) feel equipped & supported to start these conversations is crucial alongside removing systematic barriers. 2/2

That’s such an important perspective Jane. No Barriers Here challenges assumptions & supports people to think more openly about palliative care & future care wishes.

But you’re absolutely right - the referral pathway is another place where barriers & inequity need to be challenged.

Explore how arts-based approaches can transform advance/future care planning with people who experience barriers to accessing #palliativecare

Join us for @nobarriershere.bsky.social Facilitator Training on Thursday 16th October at The Mary Stevens Hospice

www.nobarriershere.org/facilitator-...

Beautiful views over Staffordshire for Sunday cricket game, with the bonus of plum trees ripe for scrumping!

A day of joy and celebrations! I’m immensely proud of this book chapter, our co-authors and everything that @nobarriershere.bsky.social stands for.

Fabulous!

Sage Journals: Discover world-class research Subscription and open access journals from Sage, the world's leading independent academic publisher.

Really pleased to share our methods paper - C-CARE the methodology underpinning No Barriers Here

journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...

Sage Journals: Discover world-class research Subscription and open access journals from Sage, the world's leading independent academic publisher.

🚨 New paper alert! 🚨

I’m incredibly proud to share our publication in #SageJournals @ijqmonline.bsky.social: C-CARE: An Arts-Based, Co-Produced Research Methodology for Understanding and Addressing Inequalities in Healthcare.

🔗 journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...

@jedjerwood.bsky.social

That would be wonderful!

This is amazing, congratulations Katherine! 👏

Thank you for sharing @dvcsaraho.bsky.social, these stories are a stark reminder of why listening, inclusion and person-centred care are not optional but essential. 2/2

YouTube video by Sarah Offley 22 strangers with one thing in common

A powerful film by @dvcdudley.bsky.social & Shout Out Academy.

Highlighting the voices too often ignored, it tells the stories of people who were failed by healthcare systems & professionals. People whose needs were not heard & whose experiences were dismissed. 1/2

youtu.be/0B-GNbxZSds

I have these in a pot but going to move into the ground next year, so pretty!

As the Bill moves to the House of Lords, I hope it prompts debate & action to safeguard our most vulnerable.

Everyone, regardless of the choices they make, must be able to access the highest standard of #EoLC. To achieve this palliative care must be increased, equitable & adequately funded.

Calling all Scottish #palliative & #healthcare colleagues 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

We’ve been approached to deliver
No Barriers Here Facilitator Training in Scotland later this year (likely November) & inviting expressions of interest

Please email: gemma.allen@marystevenshospice.co.uk to be added to the mailing list