John's Story

John is currently a patient attending the Hospice Day Service once a week, he wanted to write down why and how he came to be at the Hospice.

Before I came to the Day service I would associate hospice care with terminal illness and nothing else.  My wife and I had discussed it and we remembered our own experiences with nursing homes, of everyone sat in chairs looking at each other.  Fortunately my neighbour spoke with us and told us of the Day Service and how many activities there were to do there and how good the hospice care had been for her.

When I am here at the Day Service it is a great respite for my wife as my condition must be an awful stress on her as well.  Since being here I’ve been really really impressed (and I cannot express this enough) with the quality of care and love of all the staff.  I also find a lot of support from other patients as well, learning about their own struggles and stories.

John joins the art group on a Tuesday afternoon, led by one of the 

Creative Artist Volunteers.  This is some of the work he has achieved 

The nurses are brilliant; I believe I have confided in them more than anyone else, as it feels so comfortable to do that here.  It’s great that my medical records are kept here as the nurses in the Day Service work together with local hospital specialists and GPs.  It was my specialist who referred me to the Hospice in the first place.

There is a gathering half way through the day that is open to all patients if they want to attend.  Sarah, the chaplaincy volunteer that runs it, brings a unique balance of presenting spirituality that encompasses all who join.

 "You would never have caught me with paintbrush in my hand before coming here!"

There is a peaceful, gentle buzz about the Hospice Day service.  I like to feel like there is life around me and other patients have shared this feeling with me as well.  We are still able to maintain our independence.  There is so much to do here!  But the day goes far too quickly.