Belfast-based nurse in Marie Curie exhibition highlighting importance of end of life care

A nurse based at Marie Curie’s Belfast hospice is featured in a new exhibition to highlight the importance of end of life care.

Four artworks depicting death have been reimagined to feature real life Marie Curie nurses, including Rebecca Jennings.

At 23-years-old, Ms Jennings is one of Marie Curie’s youngest palliative care nurses.

She chose the nursing career after caring for her own grandparents who both passed away.

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She is featured in a new exhibition at the Mayfair Gallery in London, which opens for one day on Thursday, as part of Marie Curie’s Great Daffodil Appeal.

The Daffodil Collection depicts Marie Curie’s famous daffodil emblem alongside members of the charity’s nursing team, providing care and support to the dying and those close to them.

The images serve as a poignant reminder of the importance of end of life care.

The charity commissioned artist Lisa Buchanan, also known as Dangerosa, to create the series of works, which will be auctioned for its Great Daffodil Appeal.

Buchanan has assisted Damien Hirst, Lakwena and Sir Michael Craig-Martin, and used to work for Marie Curie for several years.

The exhibition also features four world-famous paintings including artworks by Nils Dardel and Ary Scheffer.

Ms Jennings said “My work at Marie Curie is so rewarding, I’m working with the patients and their families at such a difficult time, the worst time in their lives in fact.

“I feel it even more so for the patients who sometimes don’t have families and where you actually become like a family member to them during their last days.

“That’s a big thing for me personally.

“I’m really thankful that I get the time that’s needed to spend the time with patients as sometimes that’s not always the case when you are nursing palliative care patients on hospital wards.

“Small things like brushing a patient’s hair or styling it, or helping them brush their teeth can make such a difference to them.

“Maintaining dignity through the person’s final days of life is very important to me.”

Please visit Marie Curie for information on the Great Daffodil Appeal.