Share review of St Helena Hospice

St Helena Hospice 2022-06-24 Person 1 5 0

We asked to wait for care at home until it was needed as my brothers wishes were for my mum and me to care for him until we were unable too. However virtual ward arrived without warning. Some of the people who came had no interest in My brothers care only chatting and looking at my brothers home and joking around. My brothers way is to put on a face and act fine but whenever they left he would be in Agony and worn out. He asked if they could call prior to coming as he was concerned about wasting funding coming to him if not needed however in his notes one of the team kept noting refused care. He never refused care we had stated it wasn’t needed prior to hospital discharge as my mum and I would care for him as per his wishes. On one of the visits one of the nurses joked that she would bring her suitcase next time as she fancied moving in. This actually really bothered my brother to the point he didn’t really want her to come back. Another time he was putting on a fake brave face to she would just leave, she commented to me yeah well he won’t be able to walk soon! Those spiteful words still haunt me even now. Plus this wasn’t true as he walked right up until a couple of hours prior to his passing. I would also have a guess that she is medically qualified to make such a spiteful statement especially as my brothers wishes had always been not to know anything right from being diagnosed. I really hope that she never says that to a family ever again especially at end of life care of a loved one. When we actually needed care we were told they had no capacity! That was really poor and I feel probably due to the noting of refused treatment which was totally untrue it wasn’t requested by us at that time. I feel really let down by the virtual ward and would be very concerned they would do it again to someone else. Thankfully we had care and support from Debbie as she was the only one who actually cared about my brother and mum and me.

We donated on behalf of my brother after he passed away. The lady who called to thank us said that she would call us In couple of weeks To see how we were as we were and still are struggling with the grief. Sadly there was never any follow up call again. Please don’t make empty promises to people in a time of great need. It’s very hurtful and makes you feel very unsupported. For this reason we never used the bereavement support and we have been let down enough.