As many of us are aware, St Raphael's hospice provides home care to support those who aren't able to do so themselves.
Unfortunately, the hospice itself has been faced with financial pressures.
Consequently, the decision of making cuts to their services means they no longer are able to sustain the home care they provide.
The hospice is proven to care for 1 in 4 people within communities and their loved ones with free hospice care which costs £6.5 million annually.
St Raphael’s have been offering extended help e.g. counselling for the patient and loved ones during their difficult times, which the already stretched public sector doesn't offer.
The level of compassion within the carers is extremely unique; they fulfil and excel in their jobs as they guide your loved one towards their last days in comfort.
As carers are able to get to know their patients in a personal way their loved ones are able to feel safe and reliant on the carer that they will fulfil their job role to the best of their ability in a way that institutions such as local hospitals are unable to.
It has occurred far too often that within hospitals, patients aren't only put on an lengthy list but, they don’t just have one doctor that they are familiar with, they are constantly moved around.
Ultimately this makes their journeys uncomfortable and fatiguing, the last thing that a person on hospice should feel, they should be feeling the opposite, calm and at rest.
Another impact that may not be for the majority, is the loss of jobs and displacement for carers.
This unfortunate turn of events has left carers stranded as the work that they provide includes a particular skill set in which a hospital does not offer.
Therefore, this makes jobs for carers difficult to find as they provide a service that is on a personal level with the families, e.g chasing needed medication which unfortunately, the hospital doesn't do, instead it's left to the patients loved ones or themselves.
The community has suffered from the loss of one of their most trusted hospice which, evident through the referrals to other hospices.
Emma Matskiv stated the effects it has had on her personally:
‘Losing the services of our local hospice is a huge detriment to our community.
Having used the services first hand through a family member, it's something that we take for granted until there's a need and when that need arises, we almost take for granted that it's there.
Of course, hospices are not just for palliative care however, without this facility many people, families and loved ones will struggle because they cannot be around for the person who needs them all of the time.
I couldn't possibly imagine not having this service around in previous situations with loved ones.’
This statement encapsulates how strong the impact of the hospice is on the community and clearly without it, many loved ones and families have and will continue to struggle.
