The internationally renowned poet Ian McMillan has linked up performers from the Scottish Brass Ensemble, made up of players from the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and Josie Duncan, a former winner of the BBC Radio 2 Young Folk award, to release a moving tribute to the NHS, inspired by the compassionate end of life service carried out at the Northern Care Alliance (NCA) NHS Group.

Swan

Ian, known to millions as the 'Bard of Barnsley' and host of the popular BBC Radio 3 programme 'The Verb' has written the emotive 'Swan' verse paying tribute to the Swan Team, who work at Salford Royal, Royal Oldham, Fairfield General and Rochdale Infirmary.

It has now been set to a melody written by Josie and accompanied by the Scottish Brass Ensemble and harpist Iona Duncan, transforming it into a song that celebrates all those working to support patients and their loved ones in the final hours of life.

Ian said he was inspired to write the poem after hearing more about the work of the Swan Team and the SWAN acronym of 'sign, words, actions, needs'.

Dignity and respect

The Swan Team model includes palliative, end of life, bereavement, chaplaincy and mortuary care, and was established at Salford Royal in 2015.

It has since been replicated around the UK and beyond with an ethos of promoting dignity, respect and compassion before, during and after end of life care.

Ian told 4BR: "It got me thinking about the grace and beauty of the swan and the grace and, yes, beauty that the Swan Team bring to the end of life. I wanted, without making the words sentimental, to think about the idea of a journey, of many journeys.

I'm bowled over by the music and the singing. In many ways it's a true swansong."

In his poem, Ian references the care provided by the Swan Team during a person's final hours — a time Fiona Murphy MBE, Director of Nursing End of Life, Bereavement, Organ and Tissue Donation at the NCA, told 4BR, which is provided with inherent, compassionate understanding.

"We have to break down some of the barriers in caring well for the dying and the dead,"Fiona explained about the nurse-led innovation that has transformed practice across the NCA area and beyond.

"We only have one opportunity for the patient and their loved ones, and we must get it right for every patient, every time."

Moving

She added: "Ian's poem is incredibly moving and we're honoured that he has dedicated it to our service.

He has captured the essence of exactly what we aim to achieve. We are there to comfort, support — and often simply hold the patient and their relatives as their time to pass comes."

To find out more go to: https://swan-nhs.bandcamp.com/releases

Joint initiative

The joint initiative has been produced by the respected brass band musician Ian Brownbill, alongside well known brass band players and professional sound engineers James Parkinson of East London Brass and Adam Lunn.

Ian, who has been part of many high profile projects over the years, spoke of the importance of making people aware of the Swan Team service, especially with the extra difficulties imposed by the Coronavirus pandemic.

"We really hope this song will be a means of support for people at this time. Being able to work with Ian Macmillan, Josie and the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra is always great, but the importance of getting across to people how the inspirational staff works to provide both care and dignity is more important.

The SWAN Teams show that every life has had meaning, every life has had importance and every life deserves to be treated with the utmost respect and compassion."

To find out more go to: https://swan-nhs.bandcamp.com/releases

Melody and words

That was also something Josie Duncan was keen to add to. "Being asked to write a melody to Ian Macmillan's wonderful words has meant a great deal to me, and I hope, together they will bring comfort as well as joy to those who work in the most difficult of circumstances.

It was an honour to be able to link with artists such as both Ians, James and Adam who with their musical backgrounds were able to bring our self-isolated efforts together, the Scottish Brass Ensemble musicians and my father Andy for their amazing contributions.

All this though just pales into the background when you consider the work the nursing staff provide. They are all quite incredible people."

He has captured the essence of exactly what we aim to achieve. We are there to comfort, support — and often simply hold the patient and their relatives as their time to pass comesFiona Murphy MBE

Wishes met

Along with specialist care, religious and spiritual support offers relatives the opportunity to have locks of hair or handprints of their loved ones.

Staff members regularly ensure that a dying patient's wishes are met even in these unknown times, through volunteer help of additional care staff known as 'cygnets' that ensure nobody dies alone within the hospital community.

Money raised from downloads of the song will be split equally between the Swan Team to support patients and their loved ones and bereavement network The Good Grief Trust.

Charity trust

The Good Grief Trust is a charity that ensures anyone who is bereaved, anywhere in the UK is signposted to a choice of immediate support from day one, tailored to their loss.

Fiona Murphy MBE is the patron of the charity and her clinical advice and guidance helps drive campaigns to bring all UK support services together to help the bereaved find a way forward with their life.

To find out more go to: https://swan-nhs.bandcamp.com/releases

Performers

Those who have helped produce the initiative include:

Words: Ian McMillan
Song written by Josie Duncan and arranged by Andrew Duncan
Sound Engineers: James Parkinson and Adam Lunn
Produced by Ian Brownbill, Andy Duncan and James Parkinson
Scottish Brass Ensemble: Trumpet: Mark Calder, Flugel: Hedley Benson, French Horn: Stephanie Jones, Trombone: Simon Johnson, Tuba: Andrew Duncan, Harp: Iona Duncan.