Innovative technology enables patient to thank hospice for care

Gill Atkinson, a mother of-two and grandmother-of-one, was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease (MND) in May 2016. One of the symptoms of the condition is that she is unable to speak, however the technology converts tiny eye movements into spoken words. 

Gill spent four weeks as an inpatient at St Catherine's Hospice in Lancashire. She spoke in glowing terms, via her computer screen, of the care she received there before moving into a nursing home. 

“I can't praise the hospice highly enough and the care has been excellent” she said. “The staff are wonderful and I've been really impressed by the whole experience.

"It's been so uplifting and I've had a hairdresser and therapeutic massages. I'll be sad to leave."

Her husband Mark, who spent most of the time by his wife's bedside in a private room, echoed his wife's sentiments about the hospice.

"Our perception was that St Catherine's was simply for end-of-life” he said. “The hospice has stabilised Gill's pain levels which were up and down before she came here, and the excellent attitude and approach of the staff has also been very important. Until we arrived we didn't know the breadth of what the hospice has to offer.” 

Since Gill was discharged, the hospice has had to adapt its operations in response to the Covid-19 outbreak. Chief executive Stephen Greenhalgh explained: “Our dedicated doctors and nurses provide specialist medical and clinical support that helps our patients achieve what is important to them. We focus on the ‘person’ as we help them to live their lives as well as they possibly can.  

“Since Gill was discharged the national picture has changed drastically; we are adapting the way we work in response to the Coronavirus outbreak, to ensure that our key services continue to operate in these uncertain times. For example, some of our staff are being re-trained in other areas of the organisation to help support the work of the inpatient unit.

“The charity’s vital services are essential in enabling those affected by life-shortening illnesses to experience the quality of life they deserve, until the end of life” Stephen added. “Now more than ever, our care and support is also helping to relieve pressure and demands on our NHS and before too long, we will almost certainly receive patients with Coronavirus.

“We are still accepting hospice admissions, and our Clinical Nurse Specialists continue to care for patients in their own homes across Lancashire – and where appropriate, conducting reviews by phone call. We are also offering our bereavement counselling and befriending services remotely.

“This is a very tough period for all of us and we wish everyone well.”