Over the past 20 years, the St Giles Hospice at Home service has cared for thousands of people and touched the lives of many patients and their loved ones.
2022 marks the 20th anniversary of the specialist service, supporting those who wish to spend their final days at home with their loved ones by their side.
Suzanne Thomas has been part of the team since the beginning, and she still remains as dedicated as she was two decades ago. Suzanne has seen many changes over the years, from expanding the area that the service covers to the changes in uniforms.
Now working as a Field Care Supervisor in the team, Suzanne said: “I can’t believe that Hospice at Home is marking its 20th year providing care and support for patients and their families. When I first started, the team originally had six members of staff serving just the Cannock and Rugeley area. Over the past 20 years, the service has expanded and now has 19 team members and cares for patients from East Staffordshire to Birmingham East and North.
“We understand that many patients want to be cared for in the comfort of their own home, surrounded by family, so our Hospice at Home service is designed to do just that.
“The team and I must have supported thousands of patients and their families over the years – it’s really special in our role that we can provide support to not only the patients but their loved ones as well – they really appreciate the support and reassurance we can provide them with.”
Suzanne added: “With caring for so many people comes many unforgettable moments. A couple of years ago one of our patients wanted to attend a family members wedding. Our team helped them to put on their outfit so they could be included in the family photos on the day – it was really special when the family shared these pictures with us after the wedding.”
During the past year alone (September 2021 – September 2022), the St Giles Hospice at Home service has cared for 739 patients in their homes across the hospice’s catchment area.
Debby Varnam, Clinical Lead for Hospice at Home, said: “I’d like to thank everyone involved with Hospice at Home over the years who has helped to make it what it is today – a truly vital, and highly regarded service for local people and their families. We’re looking forward to the next 20 years and beyond, to continue the St Giles Hospice at Home legacy.”
There’s no better time to join the St Giles Hospice innovative and forward-thinking Hospice at Home team than during their 20th anniversary. Find out more about vacancies in the team here.