Our First Patient Arrives in Bosham 10 Year Anniversary of Hospice at Home
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September 2019 Our first patient arrives in Bosham 10 year anniversary of Hospice At Home stwh.co.uk 2 | Welcome elcomeere at St Wilfrid’s Hospice we have always prided ourselvesH on putting the needs of our patients and their loved ones at the heart of everything we do, and the Contents operation of the new Hospice is no exception. In this newsletter we look at some Carers Support can offer invaluable, of the new features improving the practical information and advice as well Seal of approval experience our patients have with as emotional support from others going 3 from the Council St Wilfrid’s, and highlight the support through similar experiences. we can also give loved ones and carers. In this newsletter we also celebrate Our first Over 84,000 residents in West Sussex the 10-year anniversary of the Hospice 3 patient arrives stated that they were unpaid carers in at Home team. Visiting patients and their the 2011 census. A carer is anyone who families in their own homes, this team can cares for their friend or family member often give as much or even more support 10 year who cannot cope without support, to the family as they do to the patient. 4 usually due to illness. anniversary of On our recent open tours, we saw several Hospice at Home Caring for someone is an important and hundreds of people visiting a Hospice rewarding role but one which is often a for the first time, pleasantly discovering Community 24-hour job that can be very demanding. what a Hospice is really like – a place of 6 highlights Many don’t think of themselves as carers laughter, love and support for the entire so often miss out on help that is available. family. Whether on the ward, in our Living Well Centre or in your home, our services Here at St Wilfrid’s we recognise how are here to help people live independently Living well important the support of loved ones is for longer. 7 for longer when facing terminal illness. Our Living Well Centre offers a Carers Support Thanks to all our readers not only for what Upcoming Group meeting on the last Wednesday you may do in support for St Wilfrid’s, but 8 of every month. It’s open to patients also for what you may do to support your events under the care of the Hospice and loved ones and the local community. relatives, loved ones or friends who are caring for them. Each month we have a guest speaker Alison Alison Moorey, How to contact us as well as our regular exercise class, Chief Executive Address: St Wilfrid’s Hospice, Walton Lane, creative arts group and advice session Bosham, West Sussex PO18 8QB run by Carers Support West Sussex. Tel: 01243 775302 Email: [email protected] Website: stwh.co.uk Registered Charity in England and Wales No: 281963 How to find us To West Ashling @stwilfridschichester B2146 @StWilfridsChi A259 We’d love to hear any feedback you may have about the newsletter, so please get To Portsmouth, Emsworth & Havant in touch with your comments. e n a L g n Contact the Newsletter Editor i l To Chichester l e A259 & Brighton on 01243 755185 or email D [email protected] e n a L n o t l a To Bosham W Chequer Lane stwh.co.uk | Seal of approval from the Council 3 Our first patient arrives in Bosham Seal of approval by patients arrived on Wednesday 3 July at the place set to become the future of end of life care in the community, WSCC leader at St Wilfrid’s brand new home in Walton Lane, Bosham. On 16 August West Sussex David Carson was a teacher for over 30 County Council leader Louise years in the Portsmouth area and was proud to be the first patient to arrive, Goldsmith visited us and was “It’s so light and spacious – you can see blown away by the myriad of the simplicity and efficiency of the design facilities on show during her is going to allow the dedicated team to deliver their exemplary care more easily”. tour of St Wilfrid’s. The new Hospice opened to new Louise said “This building is a truly patients from Monday 8 July with impressive facility for all the residents many enhanced facilities: who are set to benefit from St Wilfrid’s expert and compassionate care. Local • Welcoming and calming family areas people who care about the future of enable family and friends to make the There are also changes to the way our their community should continue to most of every moment with their loved nurses care for patients in our new support St Wilfrid’s Hospice to ensure one. Two of these rooms are larger Hospice. Patients benefit from being they are there to support families still, to enable families with children able to chat through their care, including when they need it most for many to stay overnight. their medication now locked in patients’ more years to come.” An expanded Living Well Centre personal care cupboards. This ensures • West Sussex County Council donated offering a greater variety of that nurses have more time with patients. £50,000 to the new build, just one of therapeutic and social activities to There is also a new call bell system with over 40 corporate donors and partner boost wellbeing and enable people a button that patients can press if they organisations whose contributions to to live more independently for longer. want refreshments. This sounds only in the Dreambuilding Project made this • A chapel for personal reflection, the ward kitchens, which are manned by facility possible. with the Hospice foyer set to open volunteers. These two new processes a volunteer run cafe soon. free up valuable nurse time enabling them to go where they are needed most and provide swifter care for our patients. 4 | 10 year anniversary of Hospice at Home We always strive to find common ground and show interest in the smaller things, a hobby, the garden, holidays - when asked Hospice at Home by the youngest son of one patient ‘Will my daddy get better?’ I had to tactfully think to ask ‘Is that what you would like daddy 10-year anniversary to do?’ This led to a conversation about a long planned trip to Isle of Wight they had been looking forward to, which allowed both sons to open up about what they were any of our patients would like to spend their last going through. These can be precious little M moments that can take the patient and moments in their own home. The Hospice at Home team family out of their situation for a time. support this choice and work 365 days a year to care for We can’t change the outcome but we are patients in their last few weeks of life. there for patients to support them to make sure the time they have left can be People go through a lot of physical and Constant communication amongst more comfortable whilst giving patients emotional changes during this time and the the team means patients benefit and loved ones the space to enjoy and team plan flexible visits reacting to ever from attention to detail at all times. laugh together again. changing circumstances. This consistency This continuity of service of best care of care means they can be hands on with ensures the best chance for a more The closeness you quickly develop with a series of visits from anything from a comfortable bereavement free from a patient and their loved ones allow you half hour making tea and aiding some physical pain. One common issue is to give 100% to that patient. Whether light housework with the loved one who the difficulty for loved ones to pick up there for 15 minutes to make tea or 3 cares for the patient, to spending several re-prescriptions whilst dealing with hours to talk medication and symptom hours administering pain relief and talking the present and pressing demands of management we can bring peace to the through symptom management and being a carer. This is just one of the situation. Throughout the ten years we practical quality of life options. ways we can help carers to be better have shared many laughs with families able to take care of themselves and because ultimately at this most difficult Team leader Jane Cousins recounts how the household too.” of times we all find these shared human one patient in Bracklesham saw that moments all the more valuable.” their relationship was tested now he Julie Ledger has been with the team needed constant personal care due to his since they began in 2009: Below left and top right: The Hospice at Home complex condition. “One former patient in Felpham was get ready to make house calls. “Near exhausted from 4-5 bed changes a very independent and had led a Below right: Volunteer calligraphers ensure day, we were able to put in place 3 visits dynamic business career, travelled the names of everyone who dies under the Hospice’s care are recorded. for this specifically, finding comfortable extensively and was now finding it position changes and offering occasional difficult to be less active. Working night care so his wife could get a good with her and her two sons, we night’s sleep, take the dog for a walk and were able to reassure her that pain do the shopping the next day. management was possible without compromising on her ability to look The nurses have the training to assess after her personal business.