Hospital Companions on hand to support patients at the end of life and their families
A new team of Hospital Companions trained by Marie Curie and Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, are offering support to patients nearing the end of their life.
The fully trained and DBS checked Hospital Companion volunteers are on hand to provide companionship and emotional support to patients at the University Hospital of Wales and their loved ones.
They can listen, discuss challenging topics such as advance care plans, and simply be present when family members need to rest or step away, or if a patient doesn’t have relatives living close by.
Hazel Orchard, one of the Hospital Companions, began visiting a patient, Barry, after Marie Curie received a referral from the Palliative Care Team. Over the course of two weeks, Hazel visited Barry four times, forming a meaningful connection and offering vital support to both him and his family.
During their first meeting, Hazel remembers: “We talked for ages about Barry’s life journey, his career, family and the loss of his wife. We talked about his health and he was clearly anxious as to what was going to unfold.”
When Hazel offered to return, Barry’s responded: “I do feel calmer now. Please do come back.”
On her final visit, Hazel and Barry talked deeper about his life, work and anxieties that people often face at this stage of life—the fear of the unknown, the fear of losing control, and the fear of what happens after death.
“Barry thanked me for everything before he passed, and I’m truly grateful to him for letting me into his life, even for such a short time. I can’t express enough what a privilege it was to be able to be part of someone’s journey. It seems like such a small and insignificant thing to just sit and talk with someone, but I know it helped Barry, and it helped me just as much. I got so much out of our conversations and helped me realise what I am capable of, and what my experience and skills can do to help people at such an important moment in their life”.
Beyond providing companionship, the Hospital Companions can engage in activities to boost patients’ wellbeing, accompany patients to common areas of the hospital and offer comfort to family and the patient during their final moments.
Andrea Rich, Lead Nurse in Palliative Care, said: “The Palliative Care team have found the Hospital Companions to be very friendly and flexible in their approach. They are happy to sit with patients, to get to know them and chat or will read to them, play cards or take them to the concourse if required.
“This is a service that unfortunately the hospital’s Palliative Care team do not have capacity to offer so having the availability of the volunteers has been amazing and it is lovely knowing that our patients are engaged in doing something that is important to them whilst they are in hospital."
To explore how your loved one can benefit from the Hospital Companion service, please contact walescompanion@mariecurie.org.uk or ask your clinician for a referral.