Hospice staff learn life-saving skills

Treetops Hospice is equipping all staff with essential life-saving skills thanks in part to one of its fundraisers.

The Risley-based end-of-life charity is arming staff, from nurses to fundraisers with skills including CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) and defibrillator use, through Basic Life Saving (BLS) training.

Funding for the life-saving equipment was made possible through the efforts of Treetops supporter Paul Wilcox, affectionately known as ‘Pushbike Paul’.

In 2019, he launched a charity bike recycling scheme that collects donated bikes from the local community, refurbishes them to be roadworthy, and sells them in exchange for donations to the hospice.

Additional funding support was provided by the Rotary Club of Long Eaton and the Church Wilne Rotary Satellite.

Phil Shreeve, director of clinical services at Treetops, said: “Just because we provide end-of-life care doesn’t mean we ignore medical emergencies.

“We have a lot of people on site, including patients, families and carers, staff and volunteers, and even the general public who can walk around our grounds.

“You never know when someone might need urgent help. We want everyone who steps through our doors to feel that they’re in safe hands.”