Hi, my name is Janine. I am a Senior Community Nurse working within the Hospice at Home team covering South Norfolk. My role is to support end of life patients to die with dignity in their own homes.

Staying at home is not always possible, and patient may need specialist inpatient care which is why hospices like Priscilla Bacon Lodge (PBL) exist.

For 40 years, Priscilla Bacon Lodge has provided a high standard of specialist end-of-life care, in partnership with the NHS, from its 16 bed hospice in Norwich

PBL exists to improve the lives of people who have a life-limiting or terminal illness, helping them to live as actively as they can to the end of their lives, however long that may be. It not only takes care of people’s physical needs, but also looks after their emotional, spiritual and social needs too. PBL also supports carers, family members and close friends; both during a person’s illness and during bereavement.

People may be referred to PBL at any point during their illness, so while some may come in for a few days or weeks towards the end of their lives, many more attend the hospice at much earlier stages of their illness as outpatients; receiving help and support with their symptoms so that they and their families can manage at home.

Despite its achievements, it is now inadequate both in scale and configuration, as the population of Norfolk has trebled in this time. Unfortunately, in its current location, the building cannot be extended. The Lodge is also dealing with an ever-increasing number of Complex Care cases across inpatients and outpatients.

The time has come to create a new hospice for Norfolk. The 24 bed Priscilla Bacon Hospice (PBL2) will be built on land adjacent to the Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital. The new hospice will boast the most modern and very best facilities, plus a wider range of community day care, out-patient services, and be the base for the new ‘Hospice at Home’ service. This will help to meet the ever-more complex specialist palliative care needs of the county.

In order for a new hospice to be build £12.5m needs to be raised.

 After throwing lots of ideas around, I joked with my colleagues that I would shave my head. The more I thought about it, the more I realised that this is exactly what I wanted to do. I am aiming to raise at least £1000 towards this massive sum.

I am asking my friends, family, colleagues and the public to support me in this fundraising effort by sponsoring me for whatever amount you can they can afford and by joining me on the day of the Shave on SATURDAY 24TH AUGUST 2019, 3:45 at VWFAB FESTIVAL, strumpshaw hall steam museum, strumpshaw, norwich, NR134HR