CHARITY
WE ARE HOSPICE CARE
SINCE OPENING THEIR DOORS 26 YEARS AGO, HEART OF KENT HOSPICE HAS CARED FOR OVER 10,000 PATIENTS WITH TERMINAL ILLNESSES FROM THE LOCAL COMMUNITY.
Whether at home, in a residential home, or in the Aylesford based Hospice, the team supports patients and their families and carers, not only with the physical and practical needs of living with a terminal illness, but also the psychological, spiritual and social needs too.
“ We help people to live comfortably and with dignity and independence for as long as they need us,” says Sarah Pugh, chief executive.“ Many people think that a hospice is where someone comes for the last few days of their life. That may have been the case in the past but things have changed significantly over the decades.”
People are generally referred to a hospice in the last year of their lives, although some beneficiaries have been visiting the Outpatient Centre, Magnolia Place, and enjoying their wellbeing therapies for many years.
In fact, of those people who have stayed on the 10-bed ward since January 2017, 70 per cent did so for help with managing their pain and symptoms before returning home.
At home, patients are supported by one of seven Clinical Nurse Specialists( CNS). Petina Williams, who has worked as a CNS for seven years, supports between 60-80 patients and their families in the Allington, Larkfield and West Malling areas. Among her many duties she helps patients come to terms with their diagnoses, gives advice on medication, assists with applying for benefits and suggests other hospice services they may benefit from.
“ I meet with a patient as little or as often as they need, it’ s entirely their choice,” says Petina.“ Every patient is unique and I help by making sure we have everything we can in place so that their wishes are carried out.”
While the majority of the 500 + patients are supported in the familiarity and comfort of their own homes, many also visit Heart of Kent Hospice for counselling, rehabilitation, complementary therapy, or simply to socialise with other patients and with volunteers like Maggie Lamb.
Petina Williams
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