"The staff here have a calling to help people"

I came to the hospice due to being in an unmanageable amount of pain. I had been in both the Beatson and Crosshouse Hospital but no one had got the bottom of the pain I was in. I called my hospice SPCN and said I needed help, my pain was unbearable.

She suggested coming into the hospice, and I was admitted within 2 days of the call.

The medical team arranged for an x-ray of my leg which picked up issues that needed further investigation, despite a prior CT scan that hadn’t picked this up. The results of the x-ray were available the same day, and the hospice medical team linked with my oncology team. My pain has been very well managed since coming in, and being in the hospice has led to me trying new types of medication that wouldn’t have been considered without the expertise in the hospice.

The hospice environment is friendly, I had been wary of feeling out of place as I’m only in my thirties, but all the staff have a way of making you feel at home. You don’t feel like a room number, people know your name and what’s going on for you. The staff keep an eye out for you – I was going from the bathroom to my bed one night and before I could even shout to tell the staff I was in pain they had noticed and came to ask if I was ok. One thing I found hard to accept was receiving help with personal care, but the staff are so discreet and made me feel comfortable and dignified. This has led to me agreeing to have a care package when I’m back at home.

The staff here have a calling to help people, everyone is kind and ready to help and do anything for you. They talk to me in a very open and straightforward way. They know I have a medical background and I’m sure they tailor their approach to the person they’re speaking to.

The catering and housekeeping teams will stop by and have a blether with you if that’s what you want, the physios and OT have been great, I’ve had loads of input from them and they’ve helped me get equipment organised for home. The social work team have helped me write letters to housing and organise a package of care. The whole team has meant everything, has worked seamlessly for me going home.

I’d been worried it might be all doom and gloom,but it’s actually been a very positive experience in a positive environment. The staff are upbeat and one patient even had a wee sing song one day!