Laura, a nurse of 20 years, thought she understood what good care looked like but nothing prepared her for what it meant to be on the other side – as the granddaughter at the bedside.
“Nothing has ever compared to the experience my family had at St Clare Hospice – where I witnessed what specialist hospice care truly looks like.
“When my nan became unwell, it shook our world. After a short stay in hospital, she was sent home. Our family did everything we could, but she deteriorated quickly and was readmitted to hospital. We were told she had days left,” Laura shared.
That’s when Laura remembered St Clare Hospice.
“I had spent a student placement there, and I knew – deep in my bones – this was where she needed to be. A place where care is focused on comfort, dignity, symptom control and the emotional wellbeing of the whole family
“St Clare Hospice isn’t just a place of care; it’s a centre of expertise.
“It’s team understands the complexity of end-of-life needs in a way that only specialist palliative professionals can. Within a day, Nan had a bed at the Hospice – and we felt a weight lifted.
“The Hospice felt like home, not a ward. The consultant spoke to us with such gentleness and clarity, guiding us through what to expect. They made the reality of end of life feel less frightening, even beautiful, for my family who had never faced this before.
“That night Nan started having bad dreams, and the nurses were instantly there, comforting her. Each time she had pain, they were there again with medication in hand. As a nurse myself, I know how hard it is to anticipate someone’s needs likethat, but it was if they knew her inside out.
“This wasn’t just good nursing, it was specialist palliative expertise: intuitive, skilled, proactive and deeply compassionate.
“The next night, when Nan slipped away, we were by her side. I fell asleep for just a moment, and a nurse gently woke me to tell me she had died. I broke down, overwhelmed with guilt that I hadn’t been awake. Their compassion in that moment – toward me, toward my mum, toward my grandad – will stay with me forever.
“And after her death, their care continued. They dressed her so tenderly – in her own clothes, with her rosary folded in her hands. That is the last image I hold of her, and it’s beautiful.
“As a nurse, I know the pressures facing our NHS, and I know the dedication of the staff working within it. But I also know this: specialist hospice care is something unique.
“It relieves families, eases pressure on hospitals and works to try and ensure no-one has to die in a place that they don’t want or need to be. It gives people the chance to live well until the end, ensuring comfort, dignity and personalised care that only dedicated palliative specialists can provide.
“Everyone deserves what Nan had. Everyone deserves St Clare.”
Thank you to Laura for sharing her and her Nan’s story.