In this day and age of shrinking medical provision and resources, many people are very grateful for the care that the local Hospice can give, IF their town is fortunate enough to have such a valuable care provider.
Many people do not realise that the Hospice care given so lovingly and freely is in fact NOT an NHS provision. Hospices as we patients and those who work in such places know are a charity and rely on the goodwill of local people and a tiny bit of money from the statutory purse holders!
I personally am very grateful for all that Bolton Hospice has done for me in the last 3 years and continues to do for me, because I am one of those people who do not have a terminal condition which left me only days to live, but life limiting conditions [ in my case multiple life limiting conditions] which means that my physical abilities have been steadily, rapidly diminishing and my prognosis not good with end stage heart failure, Liver congestion, lung fibrosis, chronic brittle asthma, Ehlers Danlos,Addisons disease, and life threatening multiple allergies.
When I first started to attend the Hospice, I had just had a late presenting Stemi, which left me with little heart as viable , and little function [ Ejection Fraction of 25%]. I was depressed and felt I might as well sit in my chair at home and just wait to die, probably of another massive heart attack!
That didn’t happen and the Hospice staff, brilliantly dedicated doctors and Nurses have gotten me through a few tricky times due to fluid in my lungs et al. I couldn’t be more grateful for their care and compassion in dealing with me and my partner.
I was able to walk on elbow crutches initially, but as time has gone on and my breathing worsened [ I am now on 24/7 oxygen] and my muscles wasted, and spasms worsened, I have now become a full time wheel chair user.
It is a shrinking world and life for me and my wife. However, every week the Hospice staff in the day Unit, offer care, respite, fun and laughter and even hair cuts and washing when I need it.
The Nurses care for ALL of me and every aspect of my life. They offer a listening ear, and help with symptom control, medication problems, and my emotional and psychological well being. I have re established old skills, in art etc, and enjoy the pleasure of just sitting and listening to others chat and put the world to rights [ if only we could].
Who would have thought such things were possible!
Conditions like mine [ and living with such] can be very complex and draining for the sufferer and their families or partners.
Little time is available, from a GP point of view these days, to deal with the day to day travails of a patient like me.
Hospitals are over crowded and have huge waiting lists so there is ‘No room at the Inn’ for those with end of life care needs or life limiting condition needs.
Many people are left desperate and struggling to experience a good ending, or a good final year or two of their lives. The Hospice, in my case and I am sure many other cases, offers the unhurried support and care we need to deal with, what can seem a ‘living death’ as life becomes either more painful, or more unpredictable, ones ability to self care lessened, and freedom lessened, whilst vulnerability and limits increase.
Should Hospices therefore have more funding and from whom?
Yes they should, but Hospices, like everything else these days are in crisis, financial strains are pulling services apart.
Just when they should be able to offer more care, to the many more people like me, who wont die in a day or two, they are finding they cant offer the same level of care in some parts of the Country.
Hospice’s play a vital role in providing care. I just wish our Government would recognise this and step up to the mark and offer some no strings attached funding, so that Hospices do not have to reduce services, or worst case scenario…close altogether.
Before I do die, I want to do as much as I can for the Hospice; raise funds, raise awareness, celebrate the staff…as they support me, look after me, celebrate my life and who I am!! In fact this month, I have a book launch at Bolton Hospice, of my poetry collection “ I AM HERE” , with 42 poems, some previously published in Journals etc, but many written whilst I was an inpatient, or written for the amazing staff.
Life is still sweet. Thanks Bolton Hospice.
Rosie Adamson-Clark Msc, M.Ed, M.A.
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https://www.boltonhospice.org.uk
To find out more about the book launch on April 19th at 3pm click here.
Dr Kevin Jones will be introducing the event.
The title poem I AM HERE was written for the Hospice Doctors and Nurses.
“I am here” has 42 poems in it, some of which have been previously published in International poetry journals such as Orbis, Pennine Ink and The Friend (which is the main Quaker journal) et al.
Some are written specifically FOR The Hospice, where Rosie has been an inpatient four times in the last three and a half years.
“The Hospice has given me life, helped me live much longer than my end stage heart failure, lung fibrosis, liver congestion and kidney problems ever could have given me.
They support partners like my wife Chris to cope and keep living with the daily threat of death hanging over us.”
Rosie says:
The title poem I AM HERE was written for the Hospice Doctors and Nurses.
The book was organised and edited by a friend, a retired Professor of poetry who died in January just before the book came out.
Bolton Hospice needs four and a half million pounds to run every year. Since Covid they have had only two and a half so i want to help as much as i can.
Fund raising for them has become my focus.
Every Hospice in the country is struggling. Many will close due to lack of funds.
This is an invisible tragedy as Hospices are not just for cancer or dying!! They give life and extra time, joy and hope. They are unique and we must not lose them. Bolton Hospice hub has become a focus for many groups who need a warm space, tea, coffee, love and support. Bolton hub offers it all. Tues,wed,thurs its PACKED!!
So my book celebrates the Hospice and staff, and i hope to sell many copies and present Leigh Vallance CEO with a large sum of money!!”
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