STAFF at the Marie Curie hospice in Penarth rallied together across last weekend, ensuring essential care for terminally unwell patients continued despite snow and freezing temperatures affecting much of the Vale.

On Thursday night (March 1), around half a dozen staff from the Marie Curie Cardiff and the Vale Hospice stayed on after their afternoon shifts, donning pyjamas and staying overnight at the day therapy unit to continue providing care.

Meanwhile, healthcare assistant Julie Richards was out on foot on Friday morning to get to patients in Dinas Powys who were getting care from the Hospice at Home Service, while her colleague Sarah Meek headed over to the hospice to help out. Maintenance assistant Lee Kavana was another to go beyond the call of duty, helping to transport nurses in and out of the hospice in a 4x4.

Paula Elson, manager of the Cardiff and the Vale Hospice in Penarth, praised the work of her staff in difficult conditions.

“Essential staff members stayed overnight at the hospice from Thursday and throughout the weekend to ensure continued care for patients," said Ms Elson.

“All local staff from all teams who could come in did so to help, including non-essential staff who helped on the wards where there were shortages, answering the phones and making tea.”

Helen Davies, regional manager for the Marie Curie Nursing Service, said: “The dedication our staff have shown is outstanding – both those out in the community, and those behind the scenes organising everyone’s shifts, and ensuring everyone is safe.”

Sadly for the charity however, the weather severely disrupted their Great Daffodil Appeal over the weekend and they were forced to cancel a number of fundraising collections across Wales.

The Great Daffodil Appeal, which launched at the start of February in Wales and runs throughout March, sees thousands of volunteer collectors hitting the streets to hand out the charity’s iconic daffodil pins in exchange for donations.

While the appeal is usually accompanied by the first signs of spring, heavy snowfall and freezing temperatures saw 1,000 collections cancelled across the UK. There are fears the charity could be set to miss out on up to £400,000 as a result.

If you can donate to the Great Daffodil Appeal, please visit www.mariecurie.org.uk/daffodil to donate, or look out for collections later this month.