HRH The Princess Royal visits HMP Littlehey and meets the Healthcare team
Her Royal Highness, The Princess Royal is the Royal patron of the Butler Trust, a registered charity that supports the rehabilitation of offenders and prevention of crime. The charity promotes of the social inclusion of offenders by facilitating their integration and constructive engagement in society and the advancement of the health, safety and psychological wellbeing of offenders and those who work with them.
In her role as Patron of the Butler Trust, The Princess Royal has visited most prisons in the UK, talking to a variety of staff about the role they play in supporting offenders.
In January, The Princess Royal visited HMP Littlehey located in Perry, near Huntingdonshire where NHFT provide a variety of healthcare services. Whilst visiting, she spoke to three members of our Healthcare team at HMP Littlehey, Helen Burr, Maria O'Neill and Maxine Shaw. Helen, Maxine and Maria tell us about meeting Princess Anne, what her visit meant to them, and why they love working in prison healthcare.
Maria stated: "When the princess came through the door, I whispered to Helen, 'oh she looks just like her mom '. To me, it humanised her, she hasn't long lost her mom, it made me empathetic towards her. I was quite surprised at how small in stature she is but quite a formidable woman."
Maria is a Palliative Clinical Nurse Specialist at HMP Littlehey, she has worked in secured services for 11 years having previously worked in a hospice for over 20 years. Last year, Maria won Care Talk magazine's Excellence in Palliative Care Nursing Award in their inaugural Palliative & End of Life Care Awards which recognises and celebrates excellence in palliative and end of life care.
"I love my job because it is so diverse, and little is known about patients dying in custody. There was no palliative care at Littlehey when I joined in 2014, but I bought the hospice into the prison and have continued to build on it ever since.
"For me, I'm always striving to give a great service and for our patients to have dignity in the last 12 months of their life. I look after the Officers, many of whom have not seen anyone die before and I guide them through this process. I work solely with my palliative patients and compliment the amazing healthcare team so that a peaceful and dignified death can be achieved.
"Many Royals visit hospitals, hospices and community settings, but prisons can often be overlooked. Princess Anne, I feel, reaches out to all people and it was not only a privilege to see and have a conversation with her, but we were honoured that she has taken the time to see those who work in this environment. It really did make a difference to us all and boosted morale."
Maxine is the Deputy Head of Specialist and Secured Services and Mental Health Team Manager. Maxine started at HMP Littlehey in 2014, had a short break in 2017 and returned in 2019. She loves making a difference to prisoners who have complex mental health needs and childhood trauma.
"I think it was brilliant that she came to highlight the great work staff do that work inside prisons, and I was really pleased to meet her."
Helen Burr, Head of Specialist, Secured and Clinical Services at HMP Littlehey, and has worked at HMP Littlehey since 1994.
"I met Princess Anne in 2007 when she visited HMP Littlehey last time and that was a privilege, so to meet her again was another memorable occasion which I was able to share with the healthcare team. It was a real morale booster to the team to be acknowledged and recognised by someone of her stature. It made me feel valued and that our contribution to secured services had been recognised and that she had given up her time to recognise us.
"I told the Princess that I had met her on her last visit to HMP Littlehey, 18 years ago, and she was surprised and exclaimed 'Goodness, you've worked here all those years?' Many of us work in Secured Services for long periods because we are able to offer a complex and vulnerable population the chance to have access to a high standard of healthcare. To deliver a service which is equitable to the wider community, while being creative in our approach to encourage patient uptake. Its really making a difference, every day.
"We encourage patient involvement and participation and take pride in our 'End of Life' provision. I have worked in the secured environment for a number of years and I am passionate about the service we provide, but most importantly I am immensely proud of the healthcare team who work tirelessly to deliver compassionate patient-centred care in a challenging environment."
Anthony Blades, Director of Secured Services, said "Our healthcare teams are a committed and dedicated group of professionals, who are extremely passionate about helping our vulnerable populations. They work with complex patients with a huge variety of differing needs and circumstances, striving to make a difference to the lives of those individuals. Having this visit from HRH The Princess Royal, is not just a huge morale boost for our staff, but also recognition and reinforcement of the great commitment they all show every day."