Hi there,

We’re Barbara and Grace and we head up Northern Ireland Hospice’s Hospice at Home and Community Nursing Teams. Barbara leads our adult community teams and Grace manages our children’s community nurses. We’d like to tell you more about our amazing nurses who bring unique care into your part of the world – and ask you to help continue their vital work in your local area. 

When you say the words ‘hospice care’ people often assume you’re talking about patients coming into one of our hospice buildings for perhaps the last one or two days of their lives. But, most of the time, that’s not the case. 

Firstly, most adults we care for within the hospice buildings go home again afterwards. They’ll have been with us to help manage their pain and other symptoms or for their medication to be adjusted – but they will go back home again, supported by our Hospice at Home Team. Secondly, the majority of ‘end-of-life’ care we provide for adults is given in the patient’s own home. Home is where most want to spend their last days.

The catchment area for our adult Hospice at Home service covers the Belfast, Northern and South Eastern Trust areas. Our children’s service covers the whole of Northern Ireland: we have Community Nursing Specialists covering each Health and Social Care Trust. The vast majority of the care we provide to children is actually delivered in the child’s own home.

We are fully aware that we are only able to care for people in our community because local people support us with thoughtful gifts. We were hoping that today you might consider making a donation to ensure we can continue to be there for patients and families in need. You see, one hour of Community Nursing care for children and families costs £30. For us to provide three hours of Hospice at Home care for adults, we need to find £53.82. 

A donation from you today could pay for the care and support of someone near you.

Thank you.