A member of our Supporter Experience Team has shared her own personal memories of the care her husband received at Birmingham Hospice.
Vanessa Barnett saw first-hand the high-quality support the hospice provides when husband Steve was supported in his time of need.
Steve, who was head of a secondary school drama department, had a passion for life and enjoyed singing, acting and pub quizzes. He was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2012 after feeling unwell for several months.
Following chemotherapy treatment his hospice journey began in the autumn of 2012 when doctors gave him a palliative diagnosis. The family were regularly visited by one of our Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNS) who gave advice on symptom management, psychological support and Advanced Care Planning (ACP).
The visits were also vital for Vanessa, who was caring for Steve and their young daughters Francesca and Sophia as well.
She said: “I was just happy and grateful that we had points of contact so if Steve was feeling particularly unwell, I knew that I could speak to a CNS.”
Steve bonded with one of our pharmacists, who visited often to provide prescriptions and chatted with him about all sorts of topics, which got the best out of him.
As his condition deteriorated, it was decided he would spend some time in our Inpatient Unit (IPU) for a period of symptom control.
Having grown up locally, Vanessa already knew about the hospice’s work but was taken aback by the friendly and calm atmosphere.
She said: “It was just a totally different environment compared to a hospital. It felt much calmer and there was no pressure about what time we were there or how long we were there for.
“It was just such a welcome relief to be in an environment where you weren’t worrying about noise or the disruptions. Steve had his own room, and we were able to be in there with him.”
It was the little things which made a difference. For example, Steve was delighted that the kitchen team would prepare any meal he wanted at any time.
During his time in IPU, he fell into a coma and was taken to hospital. It was decided that his final days would be spent in the hospice, which allowed his loved ones to say goodbye in a supportive and private environment.
This also allowed Vanessa to be there for her husband and her daughters at this most difficult moment, safe in the knowledge that her husband was in the best place possible.
“I knew that Steve was being taken care of, and that the girls would have been even more unsettled if I hadn’t been with them,” she added.
Steve died in November 2013, but the hospice’s ‘exceptionally caring environment’ has stayed with her over the years.
She added: “I remember getting hugs, being made cups of tea and just chatting generally. There was always somebody, whether it was a nurse or a HCA, around if I needed something, or to talk or to ask a question.”
Vanessa also started having counselling sessions to help provide a vital outlet for her feelings during the grieving process.
In 2022 Vanessa, who had retired from teaching drama, started working at the hospice as a receptionist before recently joining our Supporter Experience Team. Throughout her time here, she has used her professional and personal experience to support patients and families.
She concluded: “I would absolutely say to people if you have a loved one in this situation, there are so many ways in which the hospice can positively support you.
“When the time comes, it would be my choice for somebody to be here.”
