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Limerick nurse at heart of pioneering care centre
 By
David Thorpe
Few people can have had a more positive impact on the lives of the Irish community
in London than Limerick-born Maria Brennan.
In 1987 the Irish woman, who was working as a nurse in Ealing Hospital,
decided to take over a disused ward in the grounds of the facility and
create one of Britain’s first hospices.
Meadow House was born and is this month celebrating 20 years caring for
thousands of people in the west of the city.
She said: “At the time Meadow House was opened there were not a
lot of hospices but having worked as a nurse I knew that there was a need
for palliative care services. We took over a ward in the hospital and
it took off from there.”
Extensive fundraising and two decades of hard work has seen the hospice
expand dramatically with the addition of a day hospital and a team of
community nurses who have between 400 to 500 patients on their books at
any one time.
Speaking to The Irish Post as she prepares to retire Mrs Brennan believes
that the Irish community in London has been at the heart of the success
of Meadow House.
She said: “Apart from the obvious fact that there is a large Irish
population in the boroughs of Ealing and Hounslow — where most of
our patients come from — the Irish community has also been superb
in fundraising for the hospice.
“There is always someone running a coffee morning, but even more
than that, last year we had a group of guys from the St. Josephs GAA club
cycle from London to Sligo for us.
“The refurbishment and expansion of the hospice cost over £1.2million
which was fundraised by people in the local community and it was amazing
the lengths some people went to.
“We had people jumping out of helicopters — when you see it
means that much to people it feels really worthwhile.”
The former nurse ran the hospice herself until 2000 and since then she
has concentrated on a part-time role heading-up the centre’s fundraising
efforts.
She said: “This centre is something the Irish community can be really
proud of. The fundraising required is massive and they have always come
through for us. I feel privileged to have been involved.”
n Meadow House is hosting a fundraising coffee morning at the hospice
on Saturday, September 22 and will hold a race night at the Benet Club
in Ealing on Saturday, September 29 starting at 7.30pm. For further details
contact 020 8967 5179 (10am to 4pm Monday to Friday). |
