A Wrexham-based hospice is celebrating 30 years of providing vital care and support to patients and their families from across the community.
January 6 marked exactly three decades since the last roof tile was placed on Nightingale House, on Chester Road.
The hospice itself took just over a year to build after more than £3 million was raised by the community, donors, trusts and appeals to build the site, which officially opened its doors in 1995.
But Nightingale House has always been so much more than a building, with staff providing a wide range of services that extend far beyond traditional end-of-life care.
Nightingale House Hospice is working to break this misconception by highlighting the breadth of its services and the vital role it plays in helping patients live well following their diagnosis.
Mena, Paul Wooton, Chris and Carolyn James
“I don’t think that people realise just how much hospices offer to support you,” said Paul Wootton, a patient at Nightingale House.
“I think people think that coming to the hospice is the end, but it was actually the beginning for me.
“The staff at Nightingale House are great, they are always very cheery and will do anything for you.
“I have accessed so many of the services since I came to the hospice, and each one has helped me and my journey, from the Wellbeing Programme, Complementary Therapy Sessions, Music Therapy, Respite Care, and more. It’s fantastic!
“When I come to the Wellbeing Programme sessions, there is so much variety in our activities, and we get up to lots of things, and there is so much laughter.
“This place means so much to me, especially for the friendships it helped to form. I even meet up with some of my friends from the hospice during the week to catch up at Caffi Cwtch.
“You never know when you might need a service like this and it’s important that places like these are funded so that people in a similar situation can continue accessing the support here.”
Nightingale House Hospice in construction
Today the hospice offers a wide range of services tailored to support patients at every stage of their journey, including a Wellbeing Programme, Rehabilitation, Complementary Therapy, Music Therapy, Respite Care, and an Inpatient Unit.
Tracy Thomas, Director of Clinical and Patient Services, explained the ethos behind their work.
“At Nightingale House Hospice we put the patient at the centre of everything we do,” explained Tracy.
“Everything that staff and volunteers do here is all about helping patients to achieve their goals – big or small.
“A lot of people assume that a hospice is a place where people come to die. There is so much more to us that people aren’t always aware of.
Construction of Nightingale House Hospice
“It’s important that patients come to us early in diagnosis. Some patients may come to see our rehab team and use the pool to regain balance and stability or basic movements.
“Some may even want to regain body confidence while others might go into our Inpatient Unit for respite care to allow both them and their families some time of rest and recuperation whilst having all the comforts of being at home.
“At Nightingale House, we help people live the best life they can during the time in our care, and even afterwards, we support their families too.
“In short, hospice care is not just about end-of-life care – it is about the living we did before and support for families after.”
Nightingale House Hospice’s work is only possible through the generous support of the community. Every donation, whether from fundraising events, retail shops, or individual contributions, helps sustain these vital services.
As the hospice celebrates its 30th anniversary, it invites everyone to join in recognising its achievements and ensuring that its vital work continues for years to come. For more information about Nightingale House Hospice and how you can support its work, visit www.nightingalehouse.co.uk
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