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' A remarkable service, carried out by remarkable people'

The Rev John Schofield's wife Diane died at home in June 2003. The family used the Hospice at Home service during Diane's final days. This is John's story:

MY wife Diane passed away in June, having been fighting breast cancer for the previous eight years.

At the end of last April it was diagnosed that the cancer had returned yet again and that it was now in the liver and lung. The consultant thought that Diane might have around six months to live. In the event, that hoped-for six months became just six weeks.

The hospital put us in touch with Dorothy House Hospice Care, and our first contact was with the Nurse Specialist. She was so encouraging and supportive and we felt so much more secure and safe when she was with us, and just knowing that she and all the staff at Dorothy House were there whenever we needed them was a tremendous support for us.

Over the first few weeks, our Nurse Specialist visited us a number of times, answering any questions we might have, and giving us all the information that we might need, as well as supporting us emotionally and working in consultation with our own family doctor.

We were amazed at just how much help and support there is available, and our Nurse Specialist was able to put us in touch with those who could assist us.
We were told about day and night carers that were available as and when we might need them, but in the first weeks after Diane's diagnosis I was able, with assistance from family and friends and with the needed medical support, to meet her needs. But by the Saturday before her death I knew that I needed more expert help in order for Diane to have the help and care that she needed.

On that afternoon I asked for help for that night, so that I could catch up on sleep, and immediately that help was there for us.

Diane felt safe having the carer with her and I was able to sleep restfully for the first time in many weeks and so be more able to care for Diane the next day.

We continued with carers at night for a few more days, and then by the early hours of the Wednesday morning I knew we needed constant care here for Diane, and immediately it was set in place and we were not left alone again.

Diane passed away very peacefully in the early hours of the Thursday morning, with myself and our little girl by her side, along with my brother and his wife and our carer.

Having the folk of Dorothy House with us, and all their resources available to us, made it possible for Diane to be here at home, which is what she and I so wanted. The love and support given to us was overwhelming really, and I never dreamt that such care was available. Each person we have come in contact with from Dorothy House has felt like part of our family; we felt loved and cared for by them all and we have felt safe in their hands.

I will be always grateful for the work of Dorothy House Hospice at Home. It is a remarkable service carried out by remarkable people. That care has not ended with Diane's passing: it is now seven months on and still that care continues for myself and my 10-year-old daughter as we may have need.

Hospice at Home cares for the whole family and is able to meet whatever needs there are in a gentle, loving and tender way.

 

John Schofield and his daughter Amy met the Princess Royal when she visited Dorothy House in September 2003

 

Our mission statement

  • Dorothy House is a charity, founded on Christian principles of care. All our services in the community and the hospice are provided free of charge and with equal access to all.
  • Our aim is to offer physical, psychological, social and spiritual care to patients and their families facing life threatening illness, death or bereavement, who have specific problems which need our specialist skills.
  • In partnership with all others involved, we focus on quality of life, respecting the uniqueness of each person and their family.

    We seek to promote the development of palliative care through education and research.

Our vision

  • To continue to be at the leading edge of providing specialist palliative care for our patients
  • To facilitate increasingly integrated palliative care in the catchment area we serve .
  • To provide appropriate education, advice, information and support for health professionals and users of our servicesby sharing our knowledge and expertise
  • To be a stable, independent and financially secure organisation

 

It cost £4.500 a week to provide our Hospice at Home service