Chris’ story

Chris has told us her story from the Hospice

Before visiting the Hospice

I didn’t know much about the Hospice before, only that it held lots of local fundraising events and I assumed it was a really sad place where people went to die.

I remember the dread of visiting my father-in-law in the hospice but knew I had to support my husband who was equally as terrified, but on arrival we realised it wasn’t anything like we thought it would be.

First impressions of the Hospice

It was warm and homely, not cold and clinical. The staff were really attentive and reassuring, not just to my father-in-law but to all of us as a family.

We knew then that this was somewhere we could bring our children to visit their grandad and there was nothing to fear.

Creating memories for the whole family

I recall our children referring to the Hospice as “grandad’s hospital” and they would run up the Hospice path to visit him to watch live football on Sky TV and eat the homemade cake.

On reflection, they only probably visited him a couple of times during his stay but that was enough to create some fond memories during a really difficult time.

I remember us joking with my father-in-law about the Hospice being like a spa as he really enjoyed the foot massages provided by the complementary therapists followed by a Whisky in the evening. 

Working at the Hospice

My role is the Patient and Family Support Lead, which involves leading and managing an amazing group of staff and volunteers offering practical, emotional, spiritual and social support to patients and their families. Our team is made up of Counsellors, Complementary Therapists, Chaplains, and a Social Support Coordinator.

Support for the whole family

As a trained counsellor, I’m also able to spend some of my time providing counselling to bereaved relatives which is really rewarding.

I have worked for St. Michael’s Hospice for almost 4 years but prior to that spent some time as a volunteer working on the inpatient unit.  It was only 3 hours a fortnight, but the experience gave me valuable insight into the culture of the organisation, and I remember thinking to myself that one day I’d like to work here. 

Making a difference every day

My favourite thing about working for the hospice is working alongside like-minded people who are committed to delivering the highest possible quality of care for our patients and their families.  More specifically I love to see our patients and their families accessing the services provided by the Patient and Family Support Team and receiving feedback on how it has benefited them in a practical, emotional, or spiritual way.

Advice to anyone whose loved one is coming to the Hospice

I’d recommend a visit and to come and see for themselves what our Hospice looks and feels like.

There are many misconceptions surrounding Hospices resulting in a negative public perception and it’s important to dispel those myths and raise the public’s awareness of what Hospice care looks like, remembering that the services extend far beyond the hospice building into the community and the patient’s own homes.

Helping our patients

If you’d like to help provide vital care to more patients and their families when they need it most, please make a donation here.