Tamsin’s Hospice Story

“Mum was really keen to avoid going into a nursing home or hospital, and instead wanted be at home surrounded by her loved ones. Thanks to the hospice’s support, this was made possible,” said Tamsin Beaumont, whose mum, Carolyn Alston, received support from the St Elizabeth East Coast Hospice and East Coast Community Healthcare (ECCH) healthcare partnership, until her death aged 85-years-old in June 2023.

Since launching in April 2019, more than 4,900 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 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 was always full of life, with a passion for doing things,” explained Tamsin. “She loved being a part of the community and was an active member of the Women’s Institute.

“As well as this, she enjoyed doing crafts, especially quilting and sewing. She was as fit as a fiddle and had survived breast cancer when she was 50-years-old and lived an active retirement, until her sudden diagnosis of ovarian cancer in November 2022.

“Mum received chemotherapy and after the first round of treatment, it was discovered the cancer had spread. She lived near Colchester, but she moved in with us in Beccles as we were keen for her not be alone while she received treatment; however, in April, she moved in with us permanently when her symptoms worsened.

“The hospital made us aware of the hospice’s support and it was the hospice team which liaised with hospitals, in Great Yarmouth, Beccles and Colchester, to help Mum move safely into our home which could have been a nightmare and very stressful process, if it wasn’t for their co-ordination.

“St Elizabeth East Coast Hospice also arranged for a hospice paramedic to visit Mum at our home to conduct an assessment into what support they could provide.

“They gave us guidance on how we would have both good and bad days, but at all points their 24/7 phone line, OneCall, would be there for us whenever we needed help and advice.

“St Elizabeth East Coast Hospice were brilliant in facilitating the sourcing specific chairs, a hospital bed and grab rails for Mum, which took away the hassle for myself and it meant as a family we could focus on Mum.

“There is a real whirlwind of emotions and thoughts you feel, as you try and process what you are experiencing and how you can best help your loved one, but the hospice took control of the situation, using their expertise to provide reassurance and guidance to us as a family.

“Mum was so grateful for St Elizabeth East Coast Hospice and we were all blown away by their support and proactive care – regularly checking in on Mum, as well as our whole family.

“OneCall, in particular, was a real lifeline. It served as a one point of contact, making everything so much easier. From coordinating Mum’s care and arranging for specialist equipment, through to answering any questions I had and helping us source a Blue Badge, OneCall provided great reassurance.

“It meant so much to us that, with Mum staying at home, we could see her as often we liked to hold her hand and be with her as a family – without St Elizabeth East Coast Hospice’s support I don’t think this would have been possible.

“St Elizabeth East Coast Hospice is an amazing service which gave us the confidence to care for Mum in the most natural way, by alleviating a huge amount of our worries and ensuring we were never alone.

“I would encourage anyone, who is facing a similar situation with a loved one, to contact the hospice and see what support they can give you, as their help can make such a difference to you and your loved one.”

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.