Posted on 6th Feb
People with a terminal illness in Blidworth, Rainworth, Ravenshead, Mansfield, Ashfield, and Newark and Sherwood – and their families – can now access a home call-out support service provided by Nottinghamshire Hospice.
The Hospice Night Support service, launched in Nottingham a year ago, provides practical care and emotional support through the night to patients and carers requesting urgent help, preventing traumatic emergency hospital admissions in the last days of a person’s life and helping patients to stay in their own homes.
Last year the hospice received a £1m grant to extend the service across the mid-Notts Clinical Commissioning Group area, enabling it to recruit four more healthcare assistants — and operate up to three teams of two on each night — as well as buy two vehicles.
One family to benefit from the service was that of Margaret Nussey, 85, (pictured) who had lived independently in her Mansfield home for 22 years since her husband died until she was diagnosed with metastatic melanoma in October.
She was taken into hospital but was keen to get home. A care package was put in place, with carers visiting during the day, which left her alone at night.
Margaret’s sister, Dorothy, who lives in Derbyshire, is severely disabled and was not able to stay in the house with her.
That’s when Nottinghamshire Hospice stepped in to help with its Night Support Service.
Margaret’s niece, Stephanie, who lives in Hampshire with her son and daughter, who both have autism, said: “The hospice support was a lifeline. If it hadn’t have been for them my aunt would have been on her own from 7pm to 9 or 10 in the morning and it terrified mum that something might happen in the night.
“My aunt was very independent. She was used to living alone and walked three miles a day before she got ill. She said she wanted to die at home and was adamant she didn’t want anyone sitting with her all night, so the Hospice Night Support service was just right. Words can’t describe the peace of mind it gave my mum and me.”
The hospice team were able to check on Margaret at night, make sure she was comfortable, and in one instance, when Margaret’s health took a dip, based themselves at her home for the rest of the night while they co-ordinated other calls from there.
Margaret sadly died early in the new year and Stephanie added: “The lady from the hospice was absolutely fantastic.
“She phoned the doctor, the district nurses, my mum and me and she stayed until my aunt was taken away and secured the house. It would have been awful if my mum had found her in the morning. She wouldn’t have known what to do.”
To find out how the Night Support Service could help you or a family member, call the 24-hour helpline on 0115 962 1222 or email info@nottshospice.org or visit www.nottinghamshirehospice.org
