Legal & General supports Marie Curie Companion Service - making a difference right to the end of life

So we have partnered with Marie Curie, the UK’s leading charity for people living with a terminal illness, to help fund an innovative service.

The Marie Curie Companion service provides specially-trained volunteers to support people who are nearing the end of their life, and their families, at Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton, Somerset. The team of over 25 volunteers provide tailored support for people on the hospital’s wards, as well as family and friends who are visiting them. Companion volunteers can be with patients if they are alone, offer families and carers reassurance, and the chance for some much needed respite. 

The service is one of many ways Marie Curie cares for people with any terminal illness. This includes terminal cancer, dementia, Alzheimer’s, motor neurone disease, Parkinson’s disease, and heart and lung diseases. The charity also provides expert nursing care for people in their own home, as well as care at nine hospices across the UK. 

However, not everyone can spend their final days at home or in a hospice. When this isn’t possible, the Marie Curie Companion service can make a real difference, at a very difficult time. 

Initially started as a 6 month pilot on two wards, the service received as many referrals as was expected in a full 12 month period, and has been extended to cover the entire hospital, evidence of the growing need. To date, more than 300 patients have been supported by Companions and the funding Legal & General has provided has helped Marie Curie to continue to run the service.

Nicky Read, Head of Corporate Fundraising at Marie Curie said: “Ensuring we’re able to run innovative services like Marie Curie Companion is vital in making sure we reach more people and their families living with a terminal illness. We thank L&G for all their support in helping us to do this.”

Frances Borrer, Community Investment Manager at L&G added: “We’re delighted to be working with Marie Curie, funding the Companions service and through their work to better understand some of the issues our customers are facing. Health is a big part of our business and our aim is to be there to support our customers when they need us the most.”