When someone arrives at Winchester Hospice, they’re often nervous about what to expect. For some, they know they’ll be spending their last days there but for many more, the hospice helps manage their pain or control their symptoms, allowing them to return home.
A regular donation from local people can make a huge difference to the care the hospice is able to deliver, and the charity has recently launched its spring appeal to explain the impact of the money you give.
Linda Snook, occupational therapist at Winchester Hospice, sees many of the patients who stay with them, and her main goal when she’s caring for someone, along with the rest of the team, is to help them live well. “I get to know them,” she says. “What they like, and what they don’t, and I work with each person to determine what living well means to them. That could be anything from being able to live independently to simply enjoying time for themselves outside.”
Winchester Hospice is full of surprises to help people live well, and one of the biggest is their award-winning garden. It was created by multi-award-winning designer Sarah Eberle and donated to them after it appeared at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, scooping a prestigious gold medal. It’s often commented on by patients and their visitors who share how peaceful and tranquil they find it and how they appreciate the opportunity to be able to go outside and soak up the beauty of nature while at the hospice.
“Not all the care we offer at the hospice is medical,” says Linda. “Sometimes the power of nature can be a real healer. Just getting out in the fresh air and feeling the sun upon your face really can do a lot to boost your mood and influence how you’re feeling in that moment.”
Recently, a patient Linda was caring for was struggling, and she suggested he might like to spend some time in the garden as she thought it would help him. She shared what he said about his time in nature: “The garden was the real turning point for me. The hospice has a very beautiful garden with a cascading waterfall, trees, plants, and birds, and it has been suggested to me that I go out there. At first, I didn’t want to go. It felt a bit like an old man being shown the sky for one last time. I said that to Linda, but she encouraged me to give it a try.” I went outside and my bed was lowered so that it was like a sunbed. It was a really hot day, and there was a beautiful breeze. The water reminded me of an infinity pool, and the sound of the trees and the birds was so calming. It was exactly the same as when I would go on holiday! At that moment, I realised that I didn’t need anything else to be added to me or taken away from me.”
That experience allowed him to relax and simply enjoy the moment of being immersed in his immediate surroundings, and going outside became part of his daily routine while he was at the hospice and helped him cope with his changing circumstances.
Experiences like this for hospice patients have only been made possible thanks to the generous support of the community. Back in 2021, local people dug deep to ensure the hospice was built to serve those who needed it. Now the charity is asking for ongoing support so that Linda and everyone at the hospice can continue to support those who need us.
Linda explained, “Through the hospice’s spring appeal, a regular gift of just £10 a month could help pay for a clinical nurse specialist to spend two hours in a patient’s home to help with pain and symptom management. A regular gift of £16 a month could help fund complimentary therapy sessions to help promote relaxation and reduce tension. A gift of any amount can really make a huge difference to the support we’re able to offer our patients when they need us and will be greatly appreciated by us all at Winchester Hospice.”
To support Winchester Hospice by setting up a regular gift or making a one-off donation, visit winchesterhospice.com
