The Myton Hospices is excited to share that it has been honored with the esteemed Innovator in Care Award at the 2025 Hospice UK Awards. This annual event recognizes outstanding contributions within hospices and palliative care organizations throughout the UK, and this year saw an impressive array of over 150 submissions spanning eight distinct categories, making it a particularly competitive year.
The Innovator in Care Award specifically acknowledges those individuals and organizations that have significantly enhanced the care experience through innovative thinking, collaboration, and creative solutions. Myton was awarded for its groundbreaking GP Information Clinics, which have been pivotal in transforming how individuals facing life-limiting illnesses, along with their families and caregivers, can access vital support and information.
Created in collaboration with local Primary Care Networks, Myton’s GP Information Clinics integrate specialized hospice expertise right into general practice settings. This forward-thinking approach ensures that patients and their families receive timely and personalized assistance in an environment that feels familiar and trusted. By introducing hospice support earlier in the patient care journey, these clinics empower individuals to make well-informed choices, thereby enriching their overall care experience.
The award was presented during Hospice UK’s national conference held in Liverpool, with Registered Nurse Olivia Bowskill, who serves as Community Engagement Manager at The Myton Hospices and spearheads this initiative, accepting the accolade. Olivia expressed her pride, stating:
"Winning this prestigious award underscores the crucial importance of reaching out to people earlier in their illness. The patients I meet in these clinics often discover support services they were previously unaware of. Offering this service during such a critical moment—when everything can feel overwhelming, complicated, and uncertain—ensures that individuals have the knowledge and reassurance they need.”
The judges for the Hospice UK Innovator in Care Award remarked:
"The Myton Hospices exemplifies how innovation, collaborative partnerships, and community involvement can lead to transformative outcomes for patients. Their initiatives have demonstrable impacts and are influencing national improvements in early access to palliative care, inspiring other hospices to consider similar community-based models."
Ruth Freeman, the CEO of The Myton Hospices, added:
"This award reflects our dedication to reaching individuals earlier in their illness journey, standing by them and their families every step of the way. Our GP Information Clinics serve as a fantastic illustration of how innovation and partnership can turn that commitment into reality. We are overjoyed that this effort has gained recognition from Hospice UK, and I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to Olivia for her relentless dedication and to the GPs, healthcare professionals, and Primary Care Networks collaborating with us to make this possible.”
Looking ahead, The Myton Hospices aims to broaden the reach of the GP Information Clinics throughout Coventry and Warwickshire, ensuring that even more patients and their loved ones can benefit from earlier access to specialized support. The long-term vision is to establish this model as a sustainable, community-focused approach to palliative care, creating a replicable framework that other hospices can adopt nationwide.
At The Myton Hospices, we hold the belief that every individual matters throughout every moment of their lives, focusing on enhancing quality of life when curative options are no longer available. Our mission extends beyond end-of-life care; we support patients and their families from the point of diagnosis onward.
With three hospices located in Coventry, Rugby, and Warwick, we cater to adults aged 18 and older who are living with various life-limiting conditions, including respiratory, heart, and neurological disorders, as well as cancer and organ failure.
In the past year, demand for our Inpatient Units has surged by 11%, highlighting a pressing issue: too many individuals are passing away while waiting for this essential service. As the sole provider of hospice inpatient beds in Coventry and Warwickshire, we are acutely aware of the urgent need for additional resources, yet funding limitations restrict what we can offer.
As a charity, we are not part of the NHS and must generate £12.7 million of the £15.3 million required this year to maintain our services at no cost to patients and their families. A mere 17% of our funding is sourced from the NHS, which means we heavily rely on donations and the generous support of our local communities.
To learn more about our initiatives and how you can help, please visit us online at www.mytonhospice.org.
