Mark Pedder, a palliative nurse from Bedfordshire, has received a Health Hero Award by Love Luton in recognition of his work to improve the accessibility and inclusivity of compassionate end of life care.
Mark, who started his caring career aged 16 in a care home for the elderly, is now Inclusive Health Palliative Clinical Nurse Specialist at Keech Hospice Care in Luton. His recent work entitled ‘What Have I Done To Deserve This’ saw Mark running free webinars for professional carers and the public to help them understand the unique needs of LGBTQIA+ individuals with a terminal diagnosis.
Mark said:
“There’s an unmet need for LGBTQIA+ individuals receiving palliative care. When you have someone already in a vulnerable position, who becomes more vulnerable because of a life-limiting condition, feelings of stigma and shame can reignite.”
Mark is now working on a new initiative to help people in the local homeless community access end of life care. People in homeless communities often don’t realise the care that hospices offer is free for everyone, or even believe they’re eligible to receive it. Through collaborations with charities and night shelters and by building trust and forging relationships, Mark is helping to change perceptions, allowing for greater accessibility and equitability of care for homeless people.
On winning the Health Hero Award, Mark said:
“I was very touched just to be shortlisted and invited to the event, especially when there’s such great work being done in our community. It was overwhelming to receive the award and achieve the recognition. I chose a career in compassionate and inclusive end of life care because I saw from an early age how important it was. Receiving this accolade is incredible, because it brings healthcare equality into the spotlight and helps raise awareness of it to a wider audience. Thank you so much to everyone for all the kindness and support shown to me.”
Liz Searle, CEO of Keech Hospice Care, said:
“We are so lucky to have Mark as part of our amazing Keech team and are constantly impressed by the work he does. Mark is dedicating his time to bringing this to everyone’s attention and we couldn’t be prouder of him. Here at Keech, we always say no one should have to die alone. When we say ‘no one’ we mean absolutely no one, and Mark’s work is helping to make this a reality.”
Photo: Keech Hospice Care and Love Luton
