| Life/Oral Histories from Russia |
| Numerous interviews have been conducted that relate to the hospice movement in Russia, including the following: |
Sue Beven : Interviewed by Michael Wright, 6 April 2001.
Length of interview – 31 minutes |
 Sue Beven reflects on how she became involved with St Petersburg Healthcare Trust in the early 1990s. With a background in public relations and course management, she became the trust’s project manager and organised a 2 week course in palliative care for health professionals in St Petersburg (sponsored by the Know-How Fund) in 1995. This was followed by a number of placements and training courses in Britain. Speaking generally of the situation in Russia, she refers to the survey undertaken among health professionals by Nina Khmeleva (St Olga’s Hospice) and of the welcome inclusion of education and training issues. Finally, she outlines plans for a postgraduate training course, supported by British partners but delivered in Russia, and of the benefits the course would bring. |
Michael Siggs : Interviewed by Michael Wright, 6 April 2001.
Length of interview – 50 minutes |
 In this interview, Michael Siggs tells how he became committed to the hospices in St Petersburg after hearing a plea for help during a family visit to the city (then Leningrad) in 1989. With the help of St Helena’s Hospice ( Colchester) and local Rotarians, he prompted a range of fund-raising and education initiatives and details here the challenges that such support has faced over more than a decade of involvement. Stories abound: of the establishment of a new charity, the St Petersburg Healthcare Trust; of a fleet of 6 ambulances delivered via Sweden; of the travails of a Russian-based hospice shop; of the beds purchased in Holland and transported to Russia; and of ambitious plans for a Russian-based diploma in palliative care. Finally he speaks of the orphan care at Lakhta provided by the Sisterhood of St Elizabeth and of the growing problems caused by HIV and AIDS |
Vera Millionshchikova : Interviewed by Michael Wright, 27 April 2001.
Length of interview – 62 minutes |
 Vera Millionshchikova was inspired by Victor Zorza to become involved in hospice work and eventually came to lead the First Hospice, Moscow. She here tells how that came about and then speaks of her current hopes for the hospice. She addresses issues around training and education and also of the need for Russian donors to become committed to supporting the hospice movement. |
Wendy Jones : Interviewed by Michael Wright, 28 April 2001.
Length of interview – 68 minutes |
 Wendy Jones tells how she heard a talk by Victor Zorza at a hospice conference in London during which he appealed for help to nurture the fledgling hospice movement in Russia. She responded, and here details her experiences as she embarked on her new role as a nurse tutor in Russia, initially during the uncertain days of the August coup. She goes on to describe the palliative care developments in Russia during the 1990s and the role played by the British Soviet (later Russian) Hospice Society, an influential NGO that she came to lead as director after Zorza’s death (1996). |
Galina Moskalenko (on right) and Elena Kabakova (on left): Interviewed by Michael Wright, 26 September 2001.
Length of interview -59 minutes |
 Galina Moskalenko tells how she was drawn to social medicine during the unfavourable economic climate at the beginning of the 1990s. It seemed a natural progression for her to offer part-time assistance at Lakhta Hospice, where she became full time after Andrei Gnezdilov asked her to become medical director. She goes on to outline the challenges faced by the hospice and how they are being gradually overcome. Elena Kabakova speaks of her role as leader of the Sisterhood of St Elizabeth, a charitable organisation related to the Diaconal Council of St Petersburg. The sisters raise funds for the care of Lakhta’s orphans, focusing on education programmes and the provision of food and clothing. |
Andrei Gnezdilov : Interviewed by Michael Wright, 27 Sept 2001
Length of interview -67 minutes |
 Andrei Gnezdilov reflects on his role as a psychiatrist working with dying patients at a time when it was impossible for a life-threatening diagnosis to be communicated to the patient in Russia. Consequently, he developed a range of role playing techniques that brought him to the attention of Victor Zorza. Together, they opened Russia’s first hospice at Lakhta in 1990. He goes on to reflect on the nature and meaning of hospice care, of a new focus on the patient and the change in attitudes it prompted, and of the important part played by spirituality. |
Nina Khmeleva : Interviewed by Michael Wright, 27 Sept 2001.
Length of interview - 29 minutes |
 Nina Khmeleva speaks of her involvement in the hospice movement from her earliest days at Lakhta (1990) to her current role as medical director of St Olga’s – a hospice unit at Hospital Number 14. She explains how Russian hospices have different features, and how she wished to expand her own ideas for the benefit of patients. She describes a research project undertaken amongst nurses, and looking to the future, foresees a need for more research, more education and training, and the establishment of a chair in palliative medicine. |
Zoya Sophieva (on Right) and Irena Matashova : Interviewed by Michael Wright, 28 September 2001.
Length of interview - 50 minutes |
 Zoya Sophieva describes how she came to Kolpino hospice after previously holding an influential role as an oncologist in the City of St Petersburg. Irena Matashova pre-dates her at Kolpino and she recalls the early days when Victor Zorza used to visit and speak inspirationally about the death of his daughter in an English hospice and the benefits of hospice care to Russia. Moving to the present day, she reflects upon why hospice care is timely in Russia and details the support necessary to meet current demand. |
Nikolay Vishjnikov (on left), Konstantin Kljukovkin (on right) , Nina Khmeleva : Interviewed by Michael Wright, 27 September 2001.
Length of interview – 40 minutes |
  Nikolai Vishjnikov (Institute for Health Reform, St Petersburg) speaks of the formative work undertaken by Leonid Zelnitsky (then at Kolpino) that itemised the necessary requirements for a successful hospice; information which was published and widely distributed. Assisted by Konstantin Kljukovkin and Nina Khmeleva, he went on to speak of the ground-breaking collaboration with British partners that would see the delivery of a palliative care diploma course based entirely in St Petersburg within three years of inception. (The first module began in October 2003) |
Tatiana Katova : Interviewed by Michael Wright, 2 October 2003.
Length of interview - 28 minutes |
 Tatiana Katova describes her role as executive director of the Interchurch Diaconal Council of St Petersburg. She tells how the concept of diakonia (loving service) re-surfaced as a mission of the Church as Perestroika gathered momentum; an innovation which ultimately led to the formation of the Council. Today, the church is free. Buildings have been returned, social work is back on the agenda and projects are flourishing. Due to some high profile successes (with drug users, ex prisoners), the State has entered into partnership agreements with the Council and has taken over the running costs of some projects. This approach, of demonstrating high quality interventions which elicit a reaction from the State, is seen as a model for promoting collaboration. |
Andrei Gnezdilov and Galina Moskalenko, Interviewed by Michael Wright, 5 October 2003.
Length of interview - 43 minutes |
| This interview took place after the service of thanksgiving for Lakhta hospice held on the occasion of the hospice’s 13 th anniversary. Andrei Gnezdilov and Galina Moskalenko reflect upon thirteen years of hospice care and speak of what hospice has come to mean in Russia. They tell of the upsurge in religious life; how Russian people are re-discovering a spiritual memory and how this memory impacts upon end of life care. Finally, they each speak about their own faith and detail the ways in which it sustains them during their life and work. |
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