The Community Palliative Care Team were acknowledged for their compassionate and thoughtful care, especially Dr Tim Sullivan pictured here.
“We as a family used the services of the Community Palliative Care Team in June this year for our father/father in-law.
As a family we would like to thank the whole Palliative Care Team for your great service.
Our journey with the palliative care unit was brief which was good for us, but we would like to provide you with some feedback.
It was pretty evident from the start that we were way beyond the normal entry level of care needed, but we were quickly caught up with the help of Dr Tim Sullivan who was called at our first visit.
What can we say about Dr Tim is a very kind, understanding and caring young doctor. At our first meeting Dr Tim sat and spoke with the whole family present and ‘listened’ and answered all our questions (yep and some pretty silly questions too) in a kind, reassuring and gentle manner.
Dr Tim set up our routine of nurses and medications and would just ring and or pop in if he was passing to make sure we were ‘okay’- nothing was too much trouble for Dr Tim. Dr Tim made us feel adequate and safe.
Then we met the home care nurses. I am sorry as all your names elude me right now, but just know that you all did an amazing job. You were all so lovely, kind and caring.
You did your very best to teach us how to administer each set of drugs as they were needed and yes we finally got it with your patience and understanding.
Even though our journey with your organisation was quick and brief and things changed very quickly and it was like being on a rollercoaster. Not one of you ever made us feel inadequate no matter what we were facing at the time. For that we all thank you.
On our last day, Sunday 13th June 2021 we met the lovely ‘English’ speaking – Julie Moon. Julie came to change the pump and we very quickly realised things were at an end. Julie just sat beside our father-in-law and spoke in her lovely English voice about different places in Wales that she knew.
In a very short time our father-in-law left this world in peace with all his family around him. Julie was so respectful and kind and patient as we all said our goodbyes. Julie then helped to clean and dress our father-in-law for his journey ahead. We would like to pass on our personal thanks to Julie, you are a lovely kind lady – thank you!
Overall our experience with the Palliative Care Team was amazing, if that’s a word that can be used during someone’s death.
We were able to respect the wishes of a senior family member who wanted to ‘go in his own bed’. We were in the comfort of our own home (which we didn’t know how that was going to be) – but it was way better than having to rush up and down to a hospital or similar in an unfamiliar and cold environment. Someone was around all the time, our loved one was never on his own.
And then we had the support and backup from the Palliative Care team who did their very best to make sure we didn’t fail and supported us the whole way, emotionally and medically.
We would like to finish by saying that the Community Palliative Care Service is doing a great job. You are giving people the support, confidence and help to care for our loved ones in a loving home environment.
Well done all of you.
Kindest Regards,
A Family member”