"Mum's End of Life Care"

I want to share my experience of Caterham Dene Ward as people are very quick to complain but not so quick to praise.  Mum was admitted to East Surrey Hospital early September 2020, I will admit I was not very happy with the care she received there as I felt every concern I had was not properly addressed.  I was told mum was to be relocated to Caterham Dene for rehabilitation as she had become unable to walk.  At first I was concerned especially as I felt she had not received the correct care, but how wrong I was.

Once mum had been admitted at Caterham the staff contacted me to let me know she was there and what therapy would be undertaken.  Their visiting was explained due to Covid restrictions.  Unfortunately within a couple of days mum deteriorated but I was able to address my concerns with staff who listened and wanted to do everything they could to help her.  I was contacted by the matrons and they sadly explained that due to mum's cancer (Inflammatory Breast Cancer) she was declining and that they would try to get her transferred to St Catherine's Hospice but due to Covid there was a possibility this could not happen but they would provide her end of life care in conjunction with the hospice.  They even told me that mum's arm was swollen and blistered due to her having lymphedema which East Surrey knew but never communicated to me.  They even took the time to explain what it was and how it happens.

Mum was moved to a side room and they said that I could have open visiting to mum.  She was treated with so much love, kindness, care and dignity that I will always be eternally grateful to all the staff there, it really was as though she was the only patient in the hospital .  Not only did they care about mum but also me, they provided an extra blanket and comfy chair so I could sit with her over night, numerous amounts of tea and a kind word to check I was ok too. 

Mum sadly passed at the beginning of October but in a strange way it was comforting to know that she did pass there as I know she would have died with dignity.

I do so hope these words of thanks and appreciation will be passed on to those at Caterham Dene especially the matrons.