Billy’s Story

Billy Phillips, aged 68, has been supported by the Hospice at Home Team and the Inpatient Unit at Arthur Rank Hospice. He kindly shared his experiences:

“I have two types of cancer and needed support with breathlessness and pain management. The Hospice at Home team had been supporting me in my own home but one day I was crying with pain and the telephone rang. It was someone from Arthur Rank Hospice asking me if I would like to go in to the Inpatient Unit. Two hours later I was here. I don’t know how I would have coped at home – I was sinking fast.

At first I was terrified when they suggested the Hospice, as I thought it meant the end but I was admitted to the Inpatient Unit for pain management and I am hoping to go home again as soon as it is under control.

The treatment here is wonderful, it is 24 hours care and everyone is so friendly – I’ve never met such friendly staff. There seems to be the right amount too – the levels seem to be what they used to be in hospitals.

Hospices fill a gap in the whole care system. They do things that the hospitals don’t or can’t do. It was my birthday yesterday and the whole place kept bursting into song. I went to the Bistro for a cup of coffee and everyone in there sang ‘Happy Birthday’ to me, while someone was playing on the piano – it was incredible.

I was a carer for 17 years and I’ve never seen anything like Arthur Rank Hospice Charity. The NHS is still wonderful but it has a long way to go to beat Arthur Rank Hospice.

The funding cuts are totally worrying. Before I was ill I did not realise that Arthur Rank Hospice was here and I feel so grateful that I am being helped at this time.”

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Our ‘Outstanding’ services are provided free of charge to patients and their families. Our aim being to provide the highest quality care, helping people to make every moment count. You can find out more about how we are funded here: arhc.org.uk/how-we-are-funded.