Online Event: Tuesday 6th October

Beyond the Big Red Door: Reaching Families Where They Need Us Most

Join our panel as they share insights, personal stories, and an inside look at the care we provide:

Rhian Simmons – Registered Nurse

I’m Rhian, and I’ve worked at Helen & Douglas House since 2015 and am now one of six Clinical Nurse Specialists forming part of the new COSMIC service. 

COSMIC stands for Children’s Outreach Symptom Management in Collaboration, reflecting our team’s focus on specialist symptom management and working closely with hospitals, community teams, schools and families. 

Helen & Douglas House is a place full of hope. It is about helping children and families make the most of life, whatever lies ahead. 

Zoe Warner – Family Speaker

I’m Zoe, mum to Aidan, and we’ve been part of the Helen & Douglas House family since 2022.  Our family have regular visits from the Outreach team, and whether it’s a chat in our home, visits at the hospital or help with coming to terms with more changes in Aidan’s care, the support provided by the Helen & Douglas House team has proven to be a vital lifeline.  

David Whittingham – CEO

I’m David, and I joined the Hospice as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in 2025. Over the past 15 years, I’ve held not-for-profit leadership roles in both professional and voluntary capacities. I’ve also worked across several sectors, including higher education, the armed forces, amateur and community sport, and homelessness prevention. 

Register your place by completing the registration form below. We’d love for you to join us. Joining instructions will be shared with you following sign up. If you have any questions about the event, please get in touch at [email protected] 

This event will include discussion of children’s palliative care and the experiences of families facing life-limiting conditions. These conversations are an important part of understanding the need for our work, but some attendees may find them emotional.