Carol and her Mum Alice told us about the St John’s Hospice at Home service and the difference their care has made. Carol and Alice have known about St John's Hospice but only really knew about the Hospice at Home service when mum Alice went to stay on the inpatient ward.
Carol said her mum said that she felt very comfortable on the inpatient ward, she didn’t feel rushed and nothing was too much trouble. Alice said she enjoyed being pampered and the lovely garden views! Alice then went home to the care of the Hospice at Home team, which has also been a very positive and caring experience. The Hospice at Home service was new to them both, and just as welcome as the care of the inpatient ward. The progression from the inpatient ward to being cared for at home was logical.
Carol said, “I have weekly phone calls from Hospice at Home to check in with the nurse team about mum’s progress. I also ring them for advice and reassurance, knowing I can call at any time and like mum, will be listened to. The nurses also speak to Mum directly and mum really likes these chats – it’s another example of staff being thorough.
“Without the St John’s home team, it’s been tricky, we live in a quiet area that is across two county borders and in the past, it has been difficult to access services. That’s not the case with St John’s, you can always count on them, knowing they are there is like an extra branch of support. As a family we feel as if everyone at St John’s is working together for mum: they’re all the same page. When mum left the Hospice inpatient ward to come home the ward and hospice at home teams had spoken – it made me feel more secure to have this follow up.
“The Hospice team is reliable – you know if they say they’ll do it they will. It may not sound much yet it reduces anxiety which is wearying. You actually know these people and they know you – it makes a difference to not be just a number.
“My brother lives away and is more relaxed about mum’s care; now he knows the Hospice services are there for mum, he’s very impressed and it has reduced his anxiety too.”
You may not see the Hospice at Home team in the same way you see a hospice building, yet they are there in people’s homes across north Lancashire, south Lakes and parts of north Yorkshire. They carry out hundreds of visits and make thousands of calls every year.
Carol & Alice
