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A DAY IN THE LIFE
Life the
in
A Day
Our Day Hospice ambulance drivers embrace every part of working at the Hospice
Our cover stars Ray and Pat work in our Day Hospice, which runs on Tuesdays- Thursdays every week for patients with life-limiting illness to socialise and access the Hospice services over 12 sessions. Pat has worked here for over seven years, driving our patients, who are housebound, between their homes and the Hospice, whilst Ray has just celebrated his first year at St Joseph’s.
9.30am
We go off to collect patients at around half past nine. We have around 40-45 different patients
per week across the three days we are open, and they come from all
over East London – as far away as Beckton and Ilford, as well as our more local patients in Hackney, Tower Hamlets and Newham. Even while we’re driving, we’re talking to the people that we pick up, and building up a rapport. Sometimes, the word Hospice can put patients off, because they don’t realise that there are so many other things that happen here. We encourage them to give it a go, and often, when it gets to their last session, they don't want to leave!
11am
We get back to the Hospice and escort the patients up to Day Hospice. The rest of the team help to settle everyone in for the day with a cup of tea, and our Therapies team visit to let our patients know which appointments they have today – they can book in
for massages, acupuncture, gym sessions or counselling. A nurse
is available to monitor and review symptoms, and discuss advance care planning wishes. Often, we'll be joined by patients from the wards who are admitted for symptom control, respite or end of life care who want a change of environment or are feeling up to socialising.
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