Tag Archive for: derriford hospital

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BLOG: Remembering lost loved ones in candlelit harmony

Remembering lost loved ones in candlelit harmony

Personal reflections on her first St Luke’s Light Up a Life service by St Luke’s Communications Copywriter Jackie Butler.

As Christmas approaches, the classic song reminds us that this should be the “most wonderful time of the year”. Yet, for many of us, the festive season is when the pain of losing a loved one can hurt the most.

Gathering with others in a place of worship to remember and celebrate those we miss can be uniquely comforting, whether you are a regular churchgoer or not, and that’s exactly the opportunity St Luke’s Light Up a Life tradition provided for our local community last Tuesday.

Hundreds flocked to St Andrew’s in Plymouth city centre for three special Christmas remembrance services that were making a welcome return after a three-year absence, and I felt heartened to join the throng.

Preparing to venture out on a bitterly cold evening, I wanted to make sure I’d be toasty warm. Opening the jumper drawer, one very precious item caught my eye – a rich green toasty warm mohair polo-neck, hand-knitted by my mother for herself a year or two before she died. When I put it on, it felt like I was taking her with me, which seemed appropriate, given the occasion.

As I entered St Andrew’s, the whole place looked magical, illuminated by dozens of church candles, and I was handed my own hand-size version, ready for a poignant moment later in the proceedings. Taking a seat near the back, in the pews in front of me were men and women of all ages, some alone, others in groups, but all well-wrapped up in warm, winter coats, sitting side by side in quiet unity.

It began with a procession down the aisle, led by relay runners Paul Griffin and David Matthams who had carried the flaming Olympic-style Light Up a Life torch all the way from St Luke’s at Turnchapel just as they have done for more than 20 years. Members of the St Luke’s nursing team and loyal volunteers walked behind in pairs, carrying flickering candles.

With the original Christmas story at its heart, the thoughtfully crafted programme of words and song that followed acknowledged not only the pain of people’s grief and loss, but also the hope that light in the darkness can bring.

Team vicar Tim Partridge recognised the painful reality of people’s struggles this Christmas, reminding us that “Life is full of tears and it doesn’t get put on hold for Christmas Day.”

St Luke’s CEO Steve Statham welcomed the crowd and reminded us that St Luke’s care doesn’t stop at Christmas and that it’s the generosity of the community keeps the organisation going, year after year.

Loyal volunteers Dazzle Tighe and Adrian Frost stepped up to read a passage from the Bible and a poignant poem about treasuring our memories of people who are special to us. The Tamar Concert Choir performed two exquisite Christmas songs – Oh Holy Night and Christmas Lullaby.

The emotion was almost palpable when it was time for us to light and dedicate our personal candles, retreating into our own private worlds. It was a moment to remember those “we love but no longer see” and feel grateful for the light they brought into our lives. I thought not only of family members and special ones who are no longer with us but also of the dear friends who have lost their life partners recently.

There were prayers and a chance to raise our voices together singing Oh Little Town of Bethlehem, transporting me as if by magic back to school nativity concerts.

But the occasion wasn’t quite over yet. The camaraderie of mutual understanding, forged in the pews, carried on in the church hall, with smiles and chatter, new connections made, and old friendships rekindled, over welcome hot drinks and mince pies.

It felt very special to be part of such a heart-warming occasion that didn’t shy away from sadness but offered the chance to celebrate the memory of our loved ones in a positive and hopeful way.

If you weren’t able to join in the Light Up a Life services this year, there’s still time to record your precious memories and post photos of the loved ones you are missing this Christmas and make a donation to St Luke’s on our special online Light Up a Life memory wall.

carer passport
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BLOG: Introducing the new Carer Passport

carer passport

Introducing the new Carer Passport

A new Family and Friend Carer Passport is being launched in Plymouth on 28 November 2022 to recognise and value the support carers provide.

The Family and Friend Carer Passport is designed to help

  • Carers to identify themselves as a carer
  • All staff to recognise carers and the vital role they play

The passport has been launched by health and social care partners across the city including St Luke’s, Livewell Southwest, University Hospital’s Plymouth NHS Trust, Plymouth City Council and Improving Lives Plymouth. It highlights the expertise carers bring and the needs they have in terms of their own health and welfare.

A carer is anyone who cares, unpaid, for a family or friend who needs help and support due to illness, disability, a mental health condition or an addiction.

‘Mentally, emotionally, 24/7 your thoughts are with them and their needs and what you might be having to do, or will need to do or what you didn’t do…if the carers card works well, it will break down quite a lot of barriers. I do believe it will acknowledge the role and hopefully increase the two-way information sharing and the openness of professionals to actually speak with the carers about the things that worry them…put simply, it will make life slightly less fraught…if the carer breaks down, who’s going to do the caring?’

Carer of an adult son who has a serious mental illness, Plymouth

The new Carer Passport comprises an A5 booklet with information about caring and a credit card sized Carer Identification card. This will provide:

Carer passport

  • A recognisable way for carers to identify their caring role to health, social care and other organisations
  • Discounts at participating businesses
  • Access to information and support to help with caring
  • An opportunity to connect with other carers
  • An emergency alert card
  • Some discounts in healthcare settings, depending on circumstances

The Carer Passport also aims to give the Carer the confidence to talk with health and social care staff about the person they care for and are actively encouraged to show the Carers Card to professionals to let them know they are a carer. However, it should not be seen as ‘proof’ and all appropriate checks with the cared for person should be undertaken to ensure their confidentiality is not breached.

Dr Ed Parry-Jones, GP, Clinical Advisor for One Devon and member of Plymouth Carer’s Strategic Partnership, said: “We know that unpaid carers of family or friends routinely neglect their own health and care needs and prioritise the needs of the person they care for. By working together across organisations we are committing to help carers access the support they need to keep themselves in good physical and mental wellbeing. This will enable them to maintain their caring role and, when appropriate, help them to relinquish some aspects of their caring role’.

The Council’s commissioned service for adult carers in Plymouth is called Caring for Carers, run by Improving Lives Plymouth, and provides a range of advice, guidance, help and support for unpaid carers.

There is also help and support for the 800 plus young carers in Plymouth which is delivered by Time 4 U, a partnership between children’s charity Barnardo’s, Hamoaze House and the City Council’s Youth Services Team.

To request a carer passport residents will first need to register with Caring for Carers in any of the following ways:

Carers that are already registered with Caring for Carers will automatically receive a passport in the post.

home care
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BLOG: When compassion comes calling

home care

When compassion comes calling

Communications Copywriter Jackie Butler jumps in the deep end on the road with St Luke’s at home

If you want to learn about the fantastic care delivered day in and day out by St Luke’s, one of the best places to start has to be out on the frontline with our at home nursing teams.

Like many people, I’d been under the impression that St Luke’s was all about the wonderful in-patient unit at Turnchapel. I knew that my friend’s husband had been visited at his own house – where he wanted to take his final days – but it was still a surprise to discover that more than half the care delivered by St Luke’s happens out in the community.

Eager to find out more and part of my induction to St Luke’s, I recently had the privilege of accompanying members of our dedicated at home team on daily rounds in and around Plymouth to witness first-hand what a huge difference this treasured service makes to patients who are facing death, and their families.

For someone like me who isn’t used to being around very poorly people at the end of their lives, this was like jumping in at the deep end and I admit I was a bit nervous. But the reassuring presence of Clinical Nurse Specialist Sally, and Urgent Care team nurse Natasha and health care assistant Claire, put me at ease straight away.

I could imagine the relief you might feel as a patient, a concerned relative or a fellow carer, when these veritable superwomen ring the doorbell. It’s immediately clear that their entire focus is on making things as comfortable as they can in every sense, minimising intrusion, maximising support, easing pain, maintaining people’s dignity – often in difficult circumstances – and helping plan for the best death possible.

Their respectful and unhurried presence suggests they have all the time in the world for each individual and that nothing is too much trouble. Intuitive, gentle and knowledgeable, it was fascinating to see each of them instinctively register the tiniest changes in a patient’s expression or demeanour and then go the extra mile to respond with a practical solution.

I was surprised by the huge patch the at home team covers – some 750 square miles stretching right across the city and across into rural West Devon and remote parts of Dartmoor, as well as down into the South Hams and the coast. And some patients are visited by St Luke’s up to three times a day.

st lukes at home

ROUND ONE Sally – Clinical Nurse Specialist

Sally, who retrained as a nurse after a long career in the police force, usually travels solo but certainly made a delightful companion as I tagged along on her rounds for the day. Her intense passion for her job certainly shone brightly.

As a St Luke’s Clinical Nurse Specialist, she has particular skills in managing patients’ complex symptoms and pain, advising on medication options and other aids to make things easier. Her day involves weighing up care and treatment options and encouraging the most beneficial in each case. Like the rest of the at home team, she takes a sharp and holistic view of each patient and their quality of life, and her calls are scheduled to reflect each situation.

Sally’s upbeat manner disguises how acutely tuned in she is to every scenario she’s faced with, including the health and wellbeing of the individuals caring for a patient, whether that is family members, nursing home staff, district nurses, St Luke’s own at home team or a combination of those.

Uppermost in her mind is recognising people’s needs and acknowledging what they are going through. “It’s important to tell people you really understand,” said Sally.

Answers to the casually chatty but clever questions she asks provide the information she needs to make the right judgments about a patient’s condition and the best path to follow. Faced with a man in pain but reluctant to try a stronger painkilling solution, I noted her gentle powers of persuasion in action as she coaxed not only his agreement to “just give it a try”, but a rare little smile as well.

Minutes after checking in on a lady in a local nursing home, she was back in her car and straight on the phone to the woman’s daughter to reassure her that mum was comfortable and without pain, but very close to the end of life.

I also witnessed as she went above and beyond to make sure a patient who was no longer able to take his medication orally had a syringe pump driver and specific drugs prescribed by the GP, all up and running the very same day to avoid him suffering unnecessarily in his final days at home, surrounded by his loved ones.

“You get a real high from getting it right for the family,” she said.

Making notes during and after each visit, Sally had a mountain of paperwork to complete before calling it a day, filing detailed reports on the patients she’d seen so St Luke’s at home team, and other concerned medical professionals, had a detailed view of her observations and care advice.

While she and her fellow Clinical Nurse Specialists are like the expert flying squad of the service, the consistent daily personal care of patients is the domain of the Urgent Care Team, who work in pairs and can clock up hundreds of miles on a 12.5-hour shift, travelling from patient to patient.

ROUND TWO – Claire and Natasha

Nurse Natasha describes the palliative care she and her Urgent Care Team colleagues deliver as they approach death as “a big, warm hug” and that spirit was ever-present as I watched her and health care assistant Claire in action together in people’s homes.

“We are a very passionate team. We want people to have the very best quality care. At St Luke’s if you need to sort someone in crisis then you can spend the time. Someone else is always ready to help,” said Natasha.

Claire added: “We are not trying to make anybody better, just pain-free and comfortable. We specialise in dying and death.”

The day I joined them began with a handover meeting at Turnchapel discussing the patients they would see that morning, their state of health, their needs, issues with medication, and any other agencies involved, like social care or district nurses.

Sitting in the back of one of St Luke’s bright branded vehicles, I experienced a sense of pride as Claire negotiated the traffic to drive us to the first call of the day.  It’s fair to say that health care assistants are the lifeblood of the service and the main faces of St Luke’s care out in the community. As a nurse Natasha is more often taking an overview of patients, assessing new referrals and giving advice on care, but she clearly loves the hands-on aspects of the job, and it was awe-inspiring to watch her and Claire working seamlessly together.

Our first call was to a very weak elderly woman in the final stages of cancer, dozing in the living room of her house where she lived with her husband. Asking permission at every stage, and giving constant reassurance, Claire and Natasha very carefully raised her hospital bed to a manageable height and position. They slowly stripped back her blankets, one by one, making sure she didn’t feel cold, and gave her the gentlest of washes to freshen her up, while watching for signs of pain, discomfort and noting any deterioration since the day before.

They dealt with her catheter bag, moisturised her feet, brushed her hair and teeth. They changed her bedding and nightclothes and propped up her up with pillows so she could see out the window to the garden. When they left the house she was clean, snug and dozing again and they – or another St Luke’s UC team – would be back to do it all again in the early evening.  I sensed it wasn’t going to be long.

 

st lukes at home

Natasha and Claire repeated that level of kindness and care on each of their visits, depending on the individual and their circumstances. En route to the next patient, Claire explained a bit more about what is happening quietly under the surface when they are in someone’s home.

“You read the whole situation holistically. We soak it all up. Quite often it’s the relatives who are struggling the most. Even the dog’s behaviour can give you clues about the situation when you walk in the door,” she said. “We look for all the signs that someone is actively dying. We learn our skills and we are out there doing it. The person you are working with, you just give them a little look and they know what you are thinking.”

When death does arrive, St Luke’s role doesn’t stop, and it was humbling to hear how Claire and her fellow HCAs have a particularly poignant and challenging role to play.

“Ideally everyone would die in their sleep with someone holding their hand. But you can give them the dignity after, and it’s such a privilege to provide that care after death, for the family and the patient themselves,” she said. “We’re there for the practicalities and to talk about what happened.

“Care after death is really important and I like to do it as much as looking after someone when they are alive. To have them looking beautiful or handsome and put on their best clothes, give them a shave, some make up or perfume. It’s the last memory people are going to have of their loved one before they have to let them go, so it’s really important. You like to know that you have done your best.”

After three patients, a quick lunch, report writing and what they call a “huddle” with colleagues, Natasha and Claire were heading back out late afternoon with another set of visits on their list, maybe the same patients, maybe different ones. Every day is different for them.

I retired to my desk to reflect on my experiences with Sally, Claire and Natasha, blown away by the extraordinary compassion and skilled care I’d seen in action on the frontline and so grateful for the opportunity.  There’s still so much more for me to learn about St Luke’s, but I now have a much better insight into why we’re all here, working together to keep these incredible services running.

st lukes at home

Caitlin
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BLOG: Celebrating Caitlin: A life lived in technicolour

Caitlin

Celebrating Caitlin: A life lived in technicolour

Celebrating the life of their loved one in a way that reflects that person’s special qualities often helps the bereaved find comfort at such a deeply sad time.

For the Kelly family from Devon, paying tribute to much-loved Caitlin, just 23 years old when she died, involved a final adventure that perfectly captured her independent spirit and zest for life.

This Hospice Care Week (10 – 14 October) in partnership with Hospice UK, we’re sharing Caitlin’s story to remember the inspirational young woman she was, to highlight the vital help that hospices and hospice care can provide to people of all ages, and to reveal the very personal part a ground-breaking transatlantic voyage played in her family’s fond and fitting farewell.

At the end of her life, in May 2021, Caitlin – who was born with cerebral palsy and had epilepsy as well was a visual impairment and learning difficulties – was looked after by St Luke’s, initially at University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust, then at our specialist unit at Turnchapel.

Caitlin

Caitlin’s father, Sean Kelly, said: “It wasn’t unusual for Caitlin to have seizures, but when she suffered a brain haemorrhage at home, we knew we were facing something different and very serious.

“The hospital teams – initially at Royal Devon and Exeter and then at Derriford in Plymouth – did everything they could for her, but despite a series of operations the reality began to dawn that her life was coming to an end.  When it was suggested it might be time to have a conversation with someone from St Luke’s, Dr Doug Hooper – a member of the charity’s team at the hospital – was there to talk things through with us.

Caitlin Doug Hooper

“It was an incredibly difficult situation to accept because as a parent it’s always your instinct to fight on, but when he told us about Turnchapel, it felt like the best place for Caitlin to spend the final part of her life.”

So much more than simply a place to deliver expert medical provision, her family, including her mother, Jacqueline, brother, Cameron, and sister, Erin, describe the specialist unit as “an oasis of calm” in the most tumultuous of times.

Sean said: “After such a frenetic time, we welcomed the peace we found at the hospice, without the constant distractions of the hospital environment and the very necessary but stressful cacophony of beepers and warning sounds in the Intensive Care Unit. We decorated Caitlin’s room with her artwork, brought in her own pillows and familiar items from home and spent time reading to and just talking to her.”

It wasn’t just the tranquillity of our specialist unit at Turnchapel that made it such a haven for the Kelly family. They found solace in being able to lie down next to Caitlin on our special “cuddle bed”, which at the touch of a button expands from a single into a safe, comfortable double.

Sean said: “It was only afterwards that we learned the cuddle bed was donated in memory of a young lady, Chloe Hunn, who was close to Caitlin’s age when she was looked after at the hospice. Finding out it had been Chloe’s dying wish to have just such a bed so she and her boyfriend could cuddle – and that the family, together with friends and her local Cornish community, had clubbed together to posthumously donate it – made such an impact on us.

“The care and kindness of St Luke’s meant we had the time, space and even a certain serenity – in the midst of this most emotional of experiences – to say our goodbye to Caitlin, something for which we will always be grateful. We were grateful, too, for the support on hand, whether it was the St Luke’s nurses offering a cup of tea, a walk out in the garden or even a chat with the bereavement support staff who made themselves available, both during our time there and after her passing.”

In the week Caitlin was at St Luke’s, by chance Sean and his family, learned about a remarkable challenge, steeped in history, that brought to mind their daughter’s indomitable spirit. As part of celebrations to mark the 400th anniversary of the Pilgrims’ journey on board the Mayflower, from Plymouth, Devon, to Plymouth, Massachusetts, a 21st century cutting-edge, fully autonomous ship, completely run by an IBM computer, was undertaking sea trials in preparation to set to sail – without a crew – following the same route across the Atlantic, collecting important scientific data along the way.

Caitlin IMB / ProMare Inc

Photo credit: IMB / ProMare Inc

Inspired by Caitlin’s can-do attitude to life, the family – who have relatives in the USA, including Caitlin’s sister – got in touch with Mayflower Autonomous Ship’s co-developer, ProMare Inc, with a very special request.

Sean said: “Plymouth has historically been a point of embarkation and adventure.  We explained how much it would mean to us if a few of Caitlin’s personal possessions, including some medals, bookmarks but also a small teddy bear from Turnchapel, could make the transatlantic crossing on Mayflower so they could reach her relatives in the USA, and they very kindly agreed. After a circa three-week voyage, the trimaran arrived at its destination in the summer of 2022.  Caitlin loved adventures and, in a way, the crossing represented a great adventure in honour of that spirit.

Caitlin

“Our beautiful, happy and sometimes sassy daughter never considered herself to be less able than others. She was defined by her determination to overcome her disabilities and to live her life literally in technicolour. She was – and will always be – such an inspiration to us.”

Sally Kate career
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BLOG: Follow your heart to find a life-enhancing career

Sally Kate career

Follow your heart to find a life-enhancing career

If you’re thinking of a midlife career change, there’s a lot to weigh up. But as Sally Hutchings and Kate Hillman – both in their 50s – have shown, it’s never too late to follow your heart!

Having both enjoyed long, fulfilling careers in the police, these inspirational women made the choice re-train rather than retire. Now, they’re part of our dedicated team, where each member is valued as a person and not only for what’s on their CV.

Sally’s story

At 18, it was a strong desire to serve her community that led Sally, now 54, to join Devon and Cornwall Police as a uniformed officer. A successful 30-year career saw her rise through the ranks to Neighbourhood Inspector for Plymouth City Centre and Stonehouse and provide cover for the Chief Inspector for Plymouth.

Sally, who is married with four children and lives in Saltash, said: “I really enjoyed the variety of my police career, but – as I approached 50 – I started to feel it was ‘now or never’ if I was ever going to make the leap into nursing. I’d gained interest in the idea over the years, partly due to the many hospital visits I made with my daughter Jo, who has cystic fibrosis.  

“My lightbulb moment came one night when, looking across into another ward, I saw a nurse sitting at the bedside of an elderly man I sensed was dying. I had such a powerful feeling that working in end of life care was where I was meant to be. I could carry on making a difference in my community, but in different way – helping people at the most vulnerable time of all, when what they most need is the reassurance they are not alone and to be treated with sensitivity, kindness and respect.”

Later, a conversation with Ali Griffiths – now Community Nurse Specialist (CNS) at St Luke’s but at that time manager of the ward where Sally’s daughter Jo was receiving her treatment – spurred Sally on to study full time to be a nurse. Sally said: “Ali looked me right in the eyes and said: “It’s not too late – just do it!”.”

Sally first joined St Luke’s at Turnchapel, where we look after our most vulnerable patients. She then went to work at Derriford’s Emergency Department to gain more nursing experience before joining our Hospital team. Soon, she’ll be moving across to our Community team, where – in a wonderful twist of ‘fate’ – her manager will be CNS Ali, who helped inspire her big career change!

Sally said: “Working in the police, I was used to listening to people and having sensitive conversations, and what’s so great about St Luke’s is that they recognise these transferable skills. It isn’t just my nursing degree but my life experience they see as an asset.”

“The greatest gift we can give those in our care is to remember they are people, not simply patients. It’s the little extras, too, like the wedding I helped organise at short notice for a terminally ill lady at the hospital. Seeing what it meant to her and her family felt incredibly special. When time is running short for someone, it is such a privilege to help them feel more comfortable and in control, and to ensure their families have beautiful memories they can treasure for years to come.”

Kate’s story

For former Detective Inspector Kate, who is in her 50s and joined our Urgent Care team as a Healthcare Assistant (HCA) team in May, being in a healthcare environment is in many ways familiar territory. She said: “In the police, I had safeguarding responsibilities for children so often spent time in hospitals, and when my husband became ill and needed to be cared for at Derriford, being there with him really developed my interest in taking up a career in health.”

It was later though, when her father Mark was being looked after at Turnchapel in the last hours of his life, that Kate’s desire to work in hospice care was sparked. She said: “The team was wonderful with my dad, helping him die peacefully and supporting us as a family. It had a really big impact on me. I knew I wanted to help people in the same way.”

Having reached the stage where she could retire from the police, Kate’s journey to follow her dream began when she embarked on a six-month development programme to qualify as an HCA. Happily, she then spotted the job advert for the part-time position she now has with us. She said: “I won’t deny it felt daunting at first, being ‘the new girl’ with so much to learn, but everyone is so friendly and supportive, and I can really feel my confidence growing.

“What I love is that we can spend unhurried time with the people we look after in their own homes, doing whatever is needed to make them comfortable. While ultimately, we can’t change the outcome, there’s a lot we can do to make sure they get back to feeling more like themselves again. I find it incredibly rewarding.

“Though I left the police, all my experience of working with families through such sensitive times came with me to St Luke’s. There’s scope to develop with the hospice, too, so I’m looking forward to spending some time working with the in-patient team soon. That’s the really great thing about stepping outside your comfort zone – the opportunity to keep learning and growing. I’d recommend it to anyone!”

Find out more about working with our dedicated team – directly with patients or more behind the scenes – and check out our latest job vacancies here.

Tour de Moor
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BLOG: Fundraising has no age limits for our Tour de Moor

Tour de Moor

Fundraising has no age limits for our Tour de Moor

Losing a loved one can be difficult at any age, but especially so for young children. The impact of losing their grandma has spurred on two young fundraisers, who are the latest participants in this year’s Tour de Moor.

After losing their grandma earlier this year, seven-year-old Milo and his five-year-old sister Aurora decided that they wanted to give something back.

Tour de Moor

Milo and Aurora’s mum, Laura said: “After losing their grandma in May, they came to us and asked if they could take part in this year’s Tour de Moor. St Luke’s came to us in Derriford at the end of mum’s life and I will never forget the support that was shown. They both realised what St Luke’s does as a charity and now want to help give back and help other families.

“They love bike riding and if you know us, you know we ride a lot of miles on our bikes, so we thought why not let the kids do something more challenging for such a great cause.”

The day will be an extra special occasion for Aurora as it will also be her 6th birthday.

If you can support Milo and Aurora in their fundraising journey visit their JustGiving page.

Join the inspirational siblings on your bike in our 40th anniversary year, as Tour de Moor returns on Sunday 9 October. The summer holidays are the perfect opportunity to get those wheels turning as a family in practise for the big day.

Tour de Moor

Participants in this year’s event, sponsored by Print Copy Scan, can embrace the rugged wilderness of Dartmoor with the choice of three routes, an exhilarating hill-filled 52km of mixed terrain, 30km of tough riding over hills and through woodlands or our gentle family friendly 11km ‘mini moor’. Whether you choose to saddle up alone or with the whole family, the money you raise provides vital funds to make an important difference to people living near you, going through the toughest of times.

Whatever your age, sign up for our Tour de Moor today and make a difference in your community.

What is hospice care

BLOG: What is hospice care?

What is hospice care

What is hospice care?

If you have been advised that you need hospice care, it can be an anxious and confusing time. It’s only natural that you’re likely to have lots of questions. That’s why we’ve written this blog to help provide you with some answers.

What is hospice care?

Hospices provide specialist care for people who need their help to continue to live well following diagnosis of a terminal illness, and – when the time comes – to ensure they can die with dignity in the place that’s right for them.

Hospices give not only medical care, including pain management and advice about your condition, but emotional and practical support, too.

Hospice care has no time limit. Some patients may be supported at home by a hospice for many years while still living their day-to-day lives. The service also extends from care at home to those in hospital settings and care homes, as well as to people whose complex symptoms and/or circumstances mean they require extra support in a specialised hospice building.

Central to hospice care is respect and compassion for patients, maintaining their dignity and helping them to fulfil their wishes at end of life, which could include where they wish to die and what they want their funeral to be like.

At St Luke’s, we provide high-calibre medical, emotional, social and practical care and support. This is often referred to as ‘holistic care’ because it is comprehensive, treating the person rather than just focussing their condition. Our package of care includes physiotherapy, occupational therapy, practical advice, bereavement support and much more.

Who is hospice care for?

Hospice care is for anyone with a terminal illness, so not only people with cancer but also those with conditions such as motor neurone disease, multiple sclerosis, heart failure and Parkinson’s disease, and other life-limiting illnesses.

Hospice staff are experts in handling complex symptoms. They not only look after the elderly but any adult or child who needs them, providing specialist care and support at any stage following a terminal diagnosis, not just close to the very end of life. Here at St Luke’s, we look after adults and also provide specialist support for children of patients.

Hospice care extends to the family of a patient so that they receive the emotional and practical support they need before their loved one dies and then bereavement support following their passing.

Where is hospice care provided?

Hospices aim to keep patients at the centre of decisions surrounding their own end of life care. With this in mind, patients are looked after in the place of their choice.

There are some exceptions where this cannot be facilitated though, due to factors such as complex symptom management or becoming to poorly to travel to a preferred location.

The three main sites for St Luke’s hospice care are at home, at University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust (Derriford) and at our specialist unit at Turnchapel.

St Luke’s at home

Most of the care given by St Luke’s is in patients’ own homes because we understand how much it means to people to remain in their familiar surroundings close to loved ones, including pets.

Our community team communicates with patients to arrange regular visits and catch-ups to review how the patient is feeling and determine any additional support required. They are also at the end of the phone for any queries or concerns. Our Urgent Care Service steps in outside of these times to ensure patients remain free of any discomfort or pain and to avoid any avoidable re-admissions to hospital.

St Luke’s at Derriford

Some hospices, including ours, have hospice teams based at their local hospital for patients who have been admitted and are approaching end of life.

Working alongside the hospital doctors and nurses, they offer specialist advice on complex symptoms and provide emotional support for patients, their family and carers. The team is also heavily involved in delivering education in end of life care to nursing and medical staff across the hospital.

The team ensures a patient’s care is well co-ordinated and that they have access to all the information and advice they need, during or after treatment.

Our specialist unit

There are many reasons that a patient could be admitted to our inpatient unit at Turnchapel. It could be the person’s preferred place of death or it could be because of the need for intensive support for complex symptom management. Not all patients are easily cared for in their home so a hospice building may be the most suitable place of care.

Some patients are brought into our specialist unit for a short period. It can be the best place to monitor how they are, amend their medications and manage pain before we discharge them to go home with the appropriate support. It is also a place where patients’ friends and family can spend time with them, making the most of the time they have left together.

Getting in touch

Whenever you need St Luke’s, we are here for you, ready to listen and get to know you so that we can give you and your loved ones the best possible care and support.

Contact us here.

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Hospice care continuing to strengthen hospital response as COVID-19 cases rise

Working across the wards of University Hospitals Plymouth (UHP) NHS Trust 365 days a year, there’s a team small in number yet dynamic and consistently compassionate in the face of pressure, who swiftly stepped up to help strengthen the hospital’s emergency response when the pandemic hit hard earlier this year.

Now, with the number of COVID-19 patients on the rise locally as well as nationally, our hospital team is again giving its support to NHS colleagues, fortifying the frontline so that patients who are dying from complications of the virus receive the compassionate end of life care they need. As part of one big team at the hospital, our hospice staff are not only lending their expertise on the COVID red wards though – just as before, they’re pulling out all the stops to continue their usual work as well, ensuring that right across the hospital patients whose time is running short are as comfortable and at ease as possible.

Explaining how St Luke’s stepped up to help the hospital respond in the early months of the pandemic – and how it feels to be back supporting NHS colleagues dealing with the challenge of another influx of COVID-19 patients – St Luke’s nurse Julie Ayers said:

“Ordinarily, our team is involved in looking after up to 40 hospital patients at any one time, ensuring they receive the highest calibre care and giving emotional support to their families, too. While we are a small team, we are also flexible so when the gravity of the COVID-19 situation brought huge extra pressure to bear on the hospital, we were able to adapt quickly as part of its response to dealing with the emergency.

“It was about more than just providing specialist care and advice for patients with complex symptoms caused by the virus. We were also there supporting hospital staff who suddenly needed to have difficult but necessary conversations with patients’ families. This was especially hard for colleagues who’d never done it before, in some cases because they’d only very recently qualified as doctors and nurses. We drew on our experience to build their confidence and help them do this with kindness and sensitivity while not shying away from clarity because it’s so important to be open and honest with families in these situations.

“In addition, when inpatient and outpatient cancer treatment temporarily transferred to nearby Nuffield Hospital, we were there to provide specialist training for staff at the facility, many of whom were completely unused to looking after people with terminal illness because that’s not what their usual work involves. We continued to provide support for them until cancer care returned to UHP NHS Trust in August.”

“When I look back at that time now, which felt so relentless, I also recall how daunting it was, especially in those first few weeks because it was such an unprecedented time and none of us knew what to expect. I felt really anxious at first, especially with so many news reports about healthcare workers dying from COVID-19, but I think those fears are only natural.

“What’s really helped  – and what’s really stood out to me – is the level of support we’ve given each other. It’s been phenomenal, not just in our tightknit St Luke’s team but more widely across the whole hospital. We are really there for each other because we all recognise the importance of what do and at the same time empathise because we’re all juggling our work with the personal challenges everyone is experiencing due to the pandemic.

“We had to adapt the way we worked really quickly because things were changing not just daily but sometimes by the hour. We just got on with it though because that’s what we do. I’ve worked in palliative and end of life care for most of the past 20 years and have been back with the St Luke’s team for the past three – it’s simply where I feel I belong.”

Julie, who is married with two teenage daughters living at home, appreciates the unswerving support her family has given her as she’s continued to deliver vital care for patients week after week.

This time around, she feels she and the team are much better placed to meet the challenges of working on the frontline of hospital care, looking after patients who include those struggling with symptoms of COVID-19.

She said: “I think because of what we’ve already weathered, we know a lot more about what to expect as COVID cases continue to rise, though of course we can never get complacent.

“I still feel some trepidation – my biggest fear would be to have the virus, be symptomless and pass it on to one of my family – but with all the strict infection control measures in place, the hospital does feel a safe place to work.”

“I really want to emphasise the safety aspect because the rising number of deaths in the community points to people with terminal illness putting off hospital treatment because they’re afraid. I want to say to them, please keep your appointments. Or if you’re worried something might be wrong, don’t put off contacting your GP. It’s so important that people don’t delay what could turn out to be life-saving treatment.”

“Despite all the challenges and the emotional toll my work can take, I still love what I do. Although my role can be very sad at times, it is nevertheless really rewarding as I know I make such a difference to people’s lives.”

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Become a Trustee

St Luke’s Hospice Plymouth provides specialist palliative care to people with life threatening illnesses and support to their families and carers, in partnership with others. The care is not just medical and nursing but incorporates emotional, social and spiritual support as well.

We are always interested to hear from people with the knowledge, skills and motivation to help ensure that as St Luke’s evolves, we continue to make wise decisions that mean we can meet the challenges ahead, including reaching underrepresented groups who sometimes struggle to be heard.

Trustee, Charles Hackett, said: “Being a trustee at St Luke’s supports my personal development but more importantly allows me to use my skills to help, in some way, the community in which I live.”

Being a trustee with St Luke’s can be rewarding for many reasons, including a sense of making a difference with a well-respected charity that touches the lives of local families to gaining new experiences and forging new relationships. (For an insight into our recent work, take a look at our latest impact report.)

Fiona Field, who sits on the Organisational Risk and Audit Committee and chairs the Health & Safety Committee, said: “I give about one day per month on average, this is divided between being a member of the board, chairing the health and safety committee, visiting teams across St Luke’s and taking part in some of the fundraising activities. I have regularly attended the Open Gardens in the summertime, sold programmes on Plymouth Hoe at the Firework Championships and walked the Elmer Trail.

“I find the work interesting and rewarding and I am always proud to talk to others about the brilliant work that everyone at St Luke’s does for such a worthy cause. I am keen that the services St Luke’s offers continue to be of the highest quality possible for our patients and their families locally.”

For more information on getting involved, please contact us by e-mailing info@stlukes-hospice.org.uk

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Continuing our compassionate care for hospital patients

In May, at the height of the pandemic, Dr Doug Hooper, Consultant in Palliative Medicine in the St Luke’s team at Derriford, shared how it felt to be ‘in the eye of the storm’ at the hospital, with this specialist team extending their work to support the hospital in caring for COVID-19 patients. Nearly two months on, with such admissions steadily decreasing, two of his colleagues – nurse Linzie Collins and Dr Roger Smith – explain how the experience has been for them, and how the team is adapting as it moves into this new phase.

Linzie, who joined the team in February 2019 after nursing patients at Turnchapel, said: “I think what’s been most remarkable is the way everyone – both in our team and across the wider hospital – has pulled together, supporting each other and quickly adapting to the huge amount of change that’s had to happen quickly due to the gravity of the pandemic.

“It’s been tough at times with new changes daily, sometimes even hourly, but what’s always been at the forefront of our minds is making sure we’ve all been as well equipped as possible to give our very best care to patients who are in their last weeks, days and hours of life.

“Not only did the hospital undergo a complete transformation, with many wards moved or designated as COVID-specific – and Oncology being temporarily relocated to the nearby Nuffield hospital to free up capacity – there was also the redeployment of many staff, including nurses from other specialities who were assigned to our team to help us cope with the anticipated surge in patients needing end of life care. Now that we’re seeing less people with the virus, they’ve been able to return to their usual roles.

“My work has included covering the COVID wards as well as looking after non-COVID patients, which has given me some low-level anxiety because I’m always aware of the risks involved, but it’s been so helpful that this responsibility is shared with my colleagues.

“What’s struck me is how positive and supportive everyone has been, despite the undeniable fatigue that set in coping with the crisis. We’ve all pulled together, and I especially want to thank St Luke’s Clinical Admin, who’ve continued to be a lifeline for us, handling calls and making sure things run smoothly, despite having to do all their work off-site at home.”

Linzie’s colleague Dr Roger Smith is working with St Luke’s as part of his training in palliative care.

He said: “Fortunately, Plymouth has not seen the very high number of COVID-19 cases some other cities have had, but we’ve seen a steady stream of people admitted to the hospital because of the virus, and this has been over a prolonged period. We’ve done really well as a team to manage it, thanks to excellent teamwork and the strong leadership we have, but I won’t deny it’s been challenging at times.

“Not only have we been working with the uncertainty the crisis has brought, it was difficult using the necessary PPE with FFP (filtering face-piece), which looks a bit like a gas mask and can feel hot and uncomfortable.

“Of course, there is the emotional side, too. We’ve been supporting relatives whose loved one is dying without them by their side. However, we’ve been grateful for technology such as phones and iPad screens that’s meant that at least some could maintain some sense of connection. Nonetheless, it’s been heart-breaking to see.

Looking ahead, Roger is uncertain as to what future weeks might bring, given the number of tourists and second-home owners expected in the region soon with lockdown restrictions easing.

He said: “While it is good to see a steady decline in cases, I think our popularity as a holiday destination could make us more vulnerable than some other areas, so we need to remain vigilant. We also need to be well prepared in case of a second wave of cases in the winter months, when traditionally NHS resources are already more stretched.”

Both Roger and Linzie are also concerned that currently at Nuffield they are already seeing an increased number of cancer patients who need palliative care.

Linzie said: “It seems some people are presenting later than they normally would, perhaps because they haven’t been able to access the treatment they need due to the pandemic or because of wanting to avoid what they regard as them placing ‘additional pressure’ on the NHS. We want to reiterate the NHS’s message that it’s vitally important you don’t put off seeking medical help if you’re concerned about your health, and that you don’t miss your appointments.

“The past few months have been emotionally and physically tough, but we will manage whatever lies ahead by making sure we look after ourselves and each other, including taking some much-needed annual leave to bolster our resilience.

“We’ll continue to be here for those who need us, and do whatever we can to make such a difficult time that little bit easier for them and their loved ones.”

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