The need for more hospice nurses in North Derbyshire is continuously growing as people are living longer with more complex symptoms that require specialist care. Ashgate Hospicecare is pulling out all the stops with its ongoing sponsor a nurse campaign to ensure more nurses are able to provide care in the hospice and reach patients across the county in their own homes.

Ashgate Hospicecare community nurses visit 4500 patients in their own homes each year. The support of the local community has significantly helped the hospice to continue offering its services whilst providing symptom and pain management in a variety of settings.

Peggy Drury, a patient at Ashgate Hospicecare describes how important they are. She said, “The nursing staff, or ‘Ashgate Angels’ as I call them, are unbelievable. They’re there to help you get better and aren’t just working for the pay cheque at the end of the month. They’re all very friendly and helpful and nothing is too much trouble for them. They went out of their way to make me feel comfortable.”

Amy Bannister, whose granddad was cared for at Ashgate Hospicecare, said: “When you look back, it’s blatantly obvious the nurses were looking after the relatives too. They treat the whole patient there, even the personality. They knew granddad liked having a laugh so they’d come in and play along with him. They got to know his character.”

Ashgate Hospicecare nurses want to be there for every person who needs hospice care, whether that’s in the hospice or their own home. You can help fund an Ashgate Hospicecare nurse and sponsor a nurse today by visiting www.ashgatenurses.org.uk for as little as £3 a month.