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News
The winners of the Linda McEnhill Award 2011 have been announced
December 21st, 2010The winners of the Linda McEnhill Award 2011 have been announced…
Posted in News |
Macmillan nurse for learning disabilities wins Nurse of the Year Award
May 21st, 2010Dorothy Matthews, who is a Macmillan nurse for people with learning disabilities at Northumberland Tyne and Wear NHS Trust (Northumberland) and St. Oswald’s Hospice (Newcastle-upon-Tyne), has won the prestigious “International Journal of Palliative Nursing” Palliative Nurse of the Year 2010 Award.
Dorothy is a founder member of the PCPLD Network, and she is always eager to share her experiences and knowledge and likewise learn from the experiences of others. This award recognises not only her inspirational contribution, but also the importance of providing excellent end of life care to people with learning disabilities.
During many years working with people with learning disability Dorothy’s interest in palliative care evolved from caring for those with life limiting and life threatening conditions. She was involved in developing a palliative care unit for people with learning disabilities at Northgate Hospital in 1999. She was also part of the development of a clinical tool to identify and document distress in people with alternative communication, the Disability Distress Assessment Tool (DisDAT) a much-needed tool enabling identification of distress in people with severe communication problems.
Dorothy was appointed to her current role in 2004. The role has three main elements: clinical, developmental and training. These include health facilitation, research, advocacy, coordinator and a support network for others, hence developing a seamless service for people with learning disabilities who have developed life threatening and life limiting illnesses, such as cancers and dementias. She has worked to develop partnerships with others across the health and social care community in order that the palliative care needs of people with learning disabilities can be met.
Dorothy works with professionals in palliative care services to ensure that, wherever the patient is living, whether in their own home, in a small group home, in residential or nursing home they access appropriate interventions, working collaboratively in this way ensures that clients their families and carers have access to services which are tailored to meet their individual needs. She has also contributed to the writing of papers and book chapters.
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Membership
You are very welcome to browse the website, and take advantage of the information and expertise we offer. However, to benefit fully from opportunities to share and network, you may want to join us as a member.
Membership is free, and open to anyone who is interested in promoting excellent palliative and end of life care for people with learning disabilities.
Our members are mostly professionals, but also include some (family) carers, and some people with learning disabilities.
How to join
The PCPLD Network is a professional association of Help the Hospices
This website is funded and supported by Mencap
