Sophie & Pip’s Hospice Story
“The hospice is absolutely wonderful. If I were in the same position as Mum, I would want to be under their care – it was undoubtedly the best place for her,” said Sophie Adams, whose mum, Pip Adams (pictured above with her granddaughter Olivia), received support from the partnership between St Elizabeth East Coast Hospice and East Coast Community Healthcare (ECCH) until her death from cancer at the age of 53 in July 2024.
Since launching in April 2019, more than 5,000 patients and their families in Great Yarmouth and Waveney have been supported by the free specialist palliative care provided by the joint partnership of St Elizabeth East Coast Hospice and East Coast Community Healthcare (ECCH).
Typically living with conditions such as cancer, heart failure, chronic lung diseases – such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease – and neurological disorders, these patients have received free care through the partnership’s varied, specialist palliative care provision available at Beccles Hospital, in the community and through the service’s 24-hour advice line, OneCall.
“Mum worked for the NHS as a palliative carer and as a district nurse for many years, but retired due to ill health,” said Sophie, who is from Great Yarmouth.
“As her condition deteriorated, we all knew she needed greater support. Through her work and her friend, who worked for the hospice, we knew to contact the St Elizabeth East Coast Hospice team to access their services at Beccles Hospital on the Inpatient Unit.
“She spent nearly two weeks under their care and it was just brilliant. They made Mum feel so at home and welcome.
“We were able to decorate her room with fairy lights and electric candles on the windowsills. Dad also stayed with her, sleeping at the hospice to be with her as much as possible. It was like a home from home.
“The staff were so kind to all of us, taking the time to get to know us as people and even making sure Dad was fed when he stayed with Mum.
“For Mum, they managed her pain and gave her such a dignified death, for which we are so grateful. We could visit her whenever we wanted during the precious time we had left together as a family.
“We really couldn’t fault them. They explained everything to us and Mum in detail, ensuring we were well-informed and answering any questions we had – which was so reassuring.
“As we know the hospice is mainly self-funded, our family decided to do a fundraising dip in the sea at Great Yarmouth alongside some of Mum’s friends and colleagues.
“It was a great way to say ‘thank you’ to the charity, and we were so pleased to raise over £1,200. In fact, we are planning to make this an annual event to mark Mum’s anniversary and celebrate her memory while supporting this brilliant organisation.”
For more information about the partnership’s services in Great Yarmouth and Waveney visit www.stelizabethhospice.org.uk/how-we-can-help/hospice-care/great-yarmouth_and-waveney. To contact the 24-hour specialist palliative care advice line, OneCall, call 0800 567 0111.
