Hospice team helps with ‘advice and reassurance’ at home

“I’m in a very different place to where I thought I’d be this time last year. I’m more mobile, my pain has plateaued, and I’m at home – where I want to be. The support we get from St Catherine’s has been instrumental in that.”

Ann Kinnear, who has cancer, has been supported by our Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) at home since being discharged from hospital after breaking her femur.

She is sharing her experiences as part of the Open Up Hospice Care campaign which St Catherine’s is part of again this year along with Hospice UK and other hospices across the country. This year’s theme is ‘home’ and aims to raise awareness of the support St Catherine’s provides outside of the building in Lostock Hall.

Over the months following Ann’s discharge from hospital both she and husband David celebrated their 70th birthdays –milestones at one time Ann didn’t think she would see.

“I didn’t think I would last this long at all,” she said. “Last year was a big year for special birthdays, and it played out very differently to what I thought.”

Being at their home of 40 years in Longridge for this time has been particularly important to Ann, who has deep-rooted dislike of hospitals.

“Being in a busy hospital after I broke my leg was traumatising for me,” she explained.

“It confirmed to me I’d done the right thing when I was first diagnosed with cancer – I knew from the start that I didn’t want to undergo treatment.

“Although it was scary to come home at first, knowing we had the support and back-up of our St Catherine’s nurse was reassuring.

“Karen is very encouraging and very knowledgeable. She’s helped with tweaks to my medication and given us advice about things like Carers Allowance. Being at home is really important to me, and the support we’re getting from St Catherine’s is helping us to stay there.”

To find out more about the Open Up campaign and how you can show your support, please click here.

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