“I came to St Clare about two weeks ago now. To be honest, I didn’t expect to be in here so soon, so it was a bit of a shock at first. But as soon as I was told there wasn’t much more that could be done for me at the main hospital, and that I could come to St Clare, I jumped at the chance. I knew it was the next thing I needed to do to make myself comfortable. St Clare are the ones who can get my medication and pain relief sorted – so I knew it was the best thing for me to do.”
“I was diagnosed with cancer three or four years ago now, and I’ve been in and out of hospital ever since. I was on an experimental drug in Harley Street – and that was amazing. I had nearly 2 extra years of life that Chemo wouldn’t have given me. The medication worked so well. I would literally go for treatment in Harley Street, and then would be able to go out for a drink straight after the treatment – whereas the chemotherapy knocks you out. In fact I only had one round of successful chemotherapy, since being re-diagnosed, because I just got too weak.”
“I was very surprised with the facilities here at St Clare – I love the grounds and everything, and in the summer it will be even more lovely. The Jacuzzi bath is something that is a highlight for me!”
“I like to have one of those quite regularly. The facilities are amazing – the TV, satellite channels and everything, it’s all incredible – so different from being in hospital!”
“The food is amazing here too, and the fact that it is flexible. You can have whatever you fancy – and when you need it, not at a regimented time.”
“That actually encourages me to eat more. Because of where my illness is, I wasn’t wanting to eat, and I sometimes get bored with the same foods and things, so I needed some more variety. And the chefs here give you that.”
“The chef made a curry especially for me. I really fancied something with a strong flavour, but I can’t usually have things like that. But the chef adapted the recipe for me, and blended the onions and things, so that I could eat it. It was lovely!”
“Everybody at St Clare is so friendly – I haven’t seen a single negative person here. Everybody will do anything for you.”
“The staff have lots of time to see you, and help you when you need it. The other thing I like about this place is it is more compact – with just 8 rooms – so it is more instant to get seen to.”
“I didn’t expect St Clare to be like this at all. When you hear the word ‘hospice’ you think of a place for older people, like a nursing home. You’ve just got this image in your head, and you don’t know what to expect. But the facilities here are amazing.”
“My family can visit me at any time, and I am very pleased to be here. I just think people don’t realise what a hospice is like. A few of my friends, who had never been to a hospice, didn’t expect it to be this good. I have had lots of friends coming in to visit me – bringing me presents and cards. I’m getting lots and lots of support, and I’ve got friends all over the place, so it’s been good.”
“Not only is the care amazing, but the staff at St Clare have helped me achieve a really important milestone.”
“Basically, well before I lost my mobility, I booked to go to a gig with my friends – with standing room only. But all of a sudden, in the last two weeks, my mobility has gone downhill – and now I am using a wheelchair. When I booked the gig I was able-bodied so I didn’t think about having to stand – and about wheelchair access and things.”
“Last week, before the gig, one of my friends, Paul, asked if I was still planning to come. He phoned the venue to find out if we could change my ticket, and get wheelchair access, and the venue were great – they said they were happy to arrange it for us. The next thing was to see if I could get from the hospice to the venue in Kentish Town – and that’s when Dee, my social worker at St Clare, stepped in with her super powers!”
“Dee, my social worker at St Clare, stepped in with her super powers!”
“The gig was with a band called the Lemon Twigs, at The Forum in Kentish Town. My friend Paul, and Dee the social worker, managed to arrange a mini bus taxi to get me, five of my friends, and two members of St Clare nursing staff, up to the concert. Dee was fantastic taking over the arrangements and finalising things to make sure that I could go.”
“We had two members of staff from St Clare come with us, Lynne and Ali, a nurse and a nursing assistant, and they were brilliant. What I was totally impressed with, was that they took time out of their free time to help me.”
“It was long night out, and they did it all on their day off, to help me make this possible. I couldn’t have gone to the gig without them. They didn’t have to do that, but they chose to.”
“Lynne and Ali were amazing – they were really friendly, they were supportive, they were very professional – and they enjoyed the music too! It all went smoothly and all went according to plan.”
“A few weeks ago it might not have been so bad, someone could have helped me with a wheelchair, but since I have needed these drugs, and to have someone there on hand who can help with my medication, it was essential that someone from the hospice came to help in that practical way.”
“I am so pleased they did….because it allowed me to go on my adventure!”
“We saw the Lemon Twigs, they are a quirky new American band who played at Glastonbury this year. My friend Stuart told me about them 6 months ago, I bought the album, liked what I heard, and decided to book the tickets for the gig!
“It was brilliant night, a sell-out gig, and a really great atmosphere. We had a fantastic view of the stage, next to the music desk.”
“I really appreciate everybody – my friends and the staff at St Clare who put themselves out – to do something so special for me. They have helped me reach this really special milestone – I am just so glad I did this, and went to the gig, it means so much to me to fulfil this goal.”
– Keith