Mike's story
A proud advocate of St Leonard’s care
Professor Mike Holmes, GP and partner at Haxby Group and Chair of Nimbuscare, has been an integral member of our Board of Trustees since 2018.
He decided to become a Trustee after seeing the value of good palliative and end-of-life care when his sister-in-law died of breast cancer at the age of 32. “It was a tough time personally, but it made me acutely aware of the importance of hospice care. So, when I was approached by people I respected saying St Leonard’s is looking for someone working in primary care I was very interested. That’s when my connection with the Hospice started,” he says.
Originally from Newcastle, Mike’s early medical training took him to the Midlands, where he initially pursued surgical training. However, he realised that the hospital environment wasn’t where he felt most fulfilled. “Working alongside people and supporting them to both prevent and manage illness with compassion and continuity was appealing. Helping to manage the widest range of physical, psychological and social challenges faced by the population is incredibly rewarding. It is a privilege to work and learn from patients in General Practice”, he explains.
After three years of specialist training in York, he became a partner at Haxby Group Practice. Over the years Mike has played a pivotal role in the growth of the Haxby Group, helping to expand its practices beyond York to Hull and Scarborough. “Our growth took us towards areas of deprivation, supporting those who most need care,” he adds.
Mike was also a founding member of Nimbuscare, which spearheaded the COVID vaccination programme in York and has since grown to provide care across a large geographical footprint, working with other stakeholders to provide care collaboratively and closer to the community.
“Nimbuscare is a collaboration of all eleven GP practices in York working with the five Primary Care Networks and other stakeholders across health and social care. Our focus is how we can support patients better by working together and simplifying our services. A great example of this is the Frailty Hub, where the Hospice is actively involved. By connecting key services, we can provide timely care and support for those living with frailty, ultimately reducing hospital stays, ” he explains.
Mike’s professional journey has enabled him to give back. He is the Chair of the Trustee Board of the Royal College of General Practitioners and Honorary Professor of the Department of Health Sciences at the University of York. Then there is his relationship with St Leonard’s.
“Before I was involved with the Hospice, I held it in great esteem, so I am immensely proud to be a Trustee. I get to see first hand the impact of the work the Hospice does and how much the staff and volunteers care. The sense of selflessness and compassion, putting the patient first, is inspiring. My fellow Trustees are a real inspiration, and I am lucky to be able to take a lot of learning from them.”
Looking ahead to the next 40 years Mike’s ambition for St Leonard’s is that it becomes further embedded in the heart of the healthcare system with an even stronger community reach. “The role of hospices has evolved. They are no longer just places where people come to die, but places that enhance life towards the end-of-life, allowing people to spend quality time with friends and family for as long as they can and supporting the families long after,” he says.
“St Leonard’s does phenomenal work, and it should never be undervalued by the system. The fact it only gets a third of its funding from the NHS, relying on charity shops and the fundraising efforts of local people to raise most of its income, is sobering. There is immense gratitude for the care and support the Hospice provides, as well as for the staff and volunteers who work there. We also owe a huge debt of gratitude to the people of York and North Yorkshire who have supported us over the past 40 years.”
