A Newcastle widower has paid tribute to the support his late wife received at St Oswald's Hospice, which he said had given them "fond memories" even in her final weeks. John Farrington has spoken out to support the hospice's £40,000 Birthday Appeal, which comes amid its 40th anniversary year.
Final weeks at the hospice
In January 2016, John's wife Anne - who had a terminal cancer diagnosis - was admitted to the hospice for the last three weeks of her life. He described how the support they received had made a huge difference even amid a heartbreaking time.
This comes during the annual Hospice Care Week, which runs from October 5 to October 11. This year, the theme is "don't leave hospice care to chance" and it highlights the need to safeguard services around the country for generations to come.
Fond memories of family visits
John said: "I have fond memories of our family visiting Anne at the Hospice, especially our grandson Tom, who was just a few months old at the time. He would sit on the bed, and the nurses would often ask after ‘little Tom’."
Angela Egdell, director of care services at St Oswald’s, said John's experience a decade ago showed how vital it was to ensure such care remains available for decades to come. She said: "Reaching our 40th birthday is a really special moment for St Oswald’s Hospice, and we simply wouldn’t be here today without the incredible support of our local community."
Community support and future funding
"For four decades, people across the North East have supported St Oswald’s Hospice in so many different ways. From the staff and volunteers who have given their time, care and expertise, to everyone who has donated, fundraised, shopped with us or supported us in other ways, so many people have played a part in making our care possible. We’re enormously grateful to them all."
"It’s thanks to that support that we’ve been able to be there for families like Anne and John’s. Their story shows what hospice care can mean for a family. It’s about expert care but also having the time and space to simply be together and focus on what matters most."
Hospice bosses like Angela highlighted how it costs £12m a year to run services at St Oswald's - and that donations are vital. She added: "As proud as we are to have reached 40 years, we can’t take the next 40 for granted. The care someone receives at one of the most difficult times in their life shouldn’t be left to chance."
"So, as we celebrate this milestone, we’re asking our community to stand with us again. By supporting our 40th Birthday Appeal, you’ll be helping us make sure St Oswald’s Hospice can continue to be here for local people and families, free of charge, for generations to come."
