Dying Matters champion awarded MBE

Dying Matters and National Council for Palliative Care (NCPC) campaigner Mandy Paine has received the MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours in recognition of her work with us.

Mandy, who has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and needs to use oxygen 24 hours a day, has a long involvement with both organisations. She is a member of NCPC’s People in Partnership Steering group and Chronic Respiratory Diseases Group, and played a key role in the development of our Difficult Conversations booklet on COPD. She is also a Dying Matters champion and has spoken widely at NCPC and Dying Matters events. Most recently, Mandy recorded a song to raise funds for NCPC.

Mandy said she was delighted to have been recognised for end of life care work. 

“I am absolutely thrilled to receive an MBE and delighted that the importance of involving people with personal experience in end of life care has been recognised in this way. We’re all going to die one day, which is why it’s so important to continue to improve end of life care and to break down society’s reluctance to talk about dying.

"As someone who has a life-imiting illness and who is proud to be a Dying Matters Coalition champion, I passionately believe that end of life care can only be improved by involving people with personal experience and by more public discussion about end of life issues. I hope my story inspires other people to get involved in improving end of life care.”

Film: Mandy Paine talks candidly about dying

Eve Richardson, Chief Executive of the National Council for Palliative Care and the Dying Matters Coalition (team members are pictured with Mandy, left), added:

“I am absolutely delighted that Mandy’s inspirational commitment and contribution to end of life care has been recognised with a really well deserved MBE.

"Through her tireless work with the National Council for Palliative Care and as a Dying Matters champion Mandy has played a key role in ensuring that people with personal experience are involved in improving how people are cared for and supported at their end of their lives.”

More 

Watch 'Make That Climb', Mandy's fundraising film for the National Council for Palliative Care