Prospect Hospice appeals for donations to fund the opening of vital extra beds this Christmas

Categories: Fundraising.

As the festive season arrives, Prospect Hospice, a local charity dedicated to providing specialist end of life care, is reaching out to the community with a heartfelt Christmas appeal. The hospice is seeking funds to open additional rooms at the hospice in Wroughton and extend its urgently needed care to more local people nearing the end of their lives this Christmas.

In a year marked by unprecedented demand for the charity’s services, it is striving to ensure that every patient receives the compassionate care they deserve, and that their loved ones are supported too.

Jane Farmery, inpatient unit team leader at Prospect Hospice, says: “The reality at this time is that we simply don’t have enough funding to support everyone that needs the type of specialist care we can only offer at the hospice. As a nurse, it’s so hard knowing we are not always able to offer a place at the hospice, because our bed numbers don’t allow it.

“But my team and I face these difficult decisions every day. While we can of course offer care at home, some people really need to be cared for at the hospice, and with more rooms open, we’ll be able to make that happen more often.”

Philomena Liston, whose father, Michael Clooney, was cared for at the hospice over his last Christmas, said: “Not only did we know as a family that dad was feeling safe and receiving the expert care that he needed, they also laid on a full Christmas dinner for everyone in their dining area on Christmas Day – all the grandchildren were there, the chef came out with fantastic food and was so jolly. There was no hurry at all and because the hospice staff were on hand, they were able to help dad feel well enough to enjoy it with us. It meant the whole world.”

The appeal goes beyond the festive season; it is a call to action to secure ongoing support for the charity, ensuring that local people like Philomena and her father can receive the care they need at the hospice in Wroughton.

The hospice needs to raise about £8 million a year to operate at current levels and needs to raise even more to be able to achieve their goal of caring for more local people. Every donation brings the hospice closer to opening additional rooms, with two more about to be made available and plans for more in the new year, if enough funding can be secured.

To donate to Prospect Hospice’s Christmas appeal, visit www.prospect-hospice.net/christmas-appeal

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Lead photo is  Jane Farmery

About Prospect Hospice

Prospect Hospice is a charity providing end of life care to people 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and has been rated ‘Outstanding’ by the Care Quality Commission. The hospice provides all its services free of charge to patients and this is made possible thanks to generous donations from the community it serves which raises 75% of the £8 million it costs each year to operate

Patient support is delivered in a variety of ways, tailored to the needs of the individual. Specialist teams provide clinical, emotional and practical support to patients and their families delivered at the hospice in Wroughton, Swindon, and in people’s homes.

Prospect Hospice was founded in 1980 and serves a community of more than 300,000 people in Swindon and north east Wiltshire, including Royal Wootton Bassett, Marlborough and Pewsey, plus Lechlade and Fairford in Gloucestershire.

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