Value of care

Little has been said, it seems, of the views and experiences of the families who in past years have benefitted greatly from the excellent facilities and care delivered by the dedicated staff of that small but essential unit.

As the daughter of one of those who spent her final days in the unit, I felt moved to highlight what exactly has been delivered by way of palliative care at Charlotte Straker.

My mother’s health deteriorated rapidly last December and, after a recommendation by her GP, she was allocated a palliative care bed.

The move into the unit was swift and calm. My mother, and indeed our family, were warmly welcomed which made the transition from independent living to full time care for my mother as easy as it could possibly be.

Initially there were improvements in her health but a relapse showed that a return to her sheltered cottage was not going to happen and we as a family were facing the end of life phase for my dear mother.

The level of care and support given extended beyond the patient, and the staff recognised the need to help and support the family and close friends in the three weeks prior to her passing.

Clinical excellence it may be argued can be taught, measured and improved, but the care, kind words, a gentle supportive hug and gestures heaped upon the family during the difficult final days can only result from the years of experience of the staff, whether medical, administrative or supporting – all were outstanding, we could never thank them enough.

The value of the service, in particular the staff dedication is something which is impossible to value – even though those responsible for funding are probably only able to assess the cost.

I will be forever grateful to the staff at Charlotte Straker for the level of care during my mother’s final days. Let us hope that steps can be taken to rectify the inadequate funding so that the palliative care unit, a huge asset to Tynedale, can survive for the future.

BARBARA SPEARMAN

Newbrough