For families like Rafferty’s, the care and respite that Jigsaw provides is a lifeline. For people in remote communities, long travel distances, limited transport and staff shortages make it harder to access the care they need.
Earlier this week, Julie, Chief Executive of Eden Valley Hospice and Jigsaw, attended Parliament to discuss the needs of adults and children in remote, rural, and island communities.
Julie discussed the challenges faced by patients and their visitors, and the need to improve support for people living with life-limiting conditions — so families like Rafferty’s can receive the support they need, no matter their postcode. The event was chaired by MP Vikki Slade, and attended by a number of MPS who listened with interest and promised to raise some of the issues in up and coming debates. MPs were also very interested in this collaborative and innovative approach to ensuring sustainable care packages closer to home.
Barney and Harvie, Rafferty’s parents, made the long drive to Westminster, and we’re so grateful for their kind words about Jigsaw and the other teams that support them. Rafferty stole the show!
Thank you to Hospice UK for organising the event, and for the backing of Together for Short Lives, we hope that this will have a meaningful impact on the future of hospice funding.
