'A LOT OF LAUGHTER': Jenny Hyatt with a photograph of her friend Sarah James.
While the Hospice of St Francis offers a variety of care to its patients, with an inpatient unit, day hospice and home care, sometimes the local hospices work together to ensure patients receive the best care possible.
Sarah James, of Berkhamsted, tragically died of ovarian cancer last September after being cared for during her final weeks by nurses from St Francis, the lain Rennie Hospice and district nurses.
Sarah's friend, and Hospice of St Francis volunteer, Jenny Hyatt, helped provide the care that helped during the end of her illness.
She said: "In July last year Sarah deteriorated quite suddenly and she went into the hospice. Within a matter of days they were saying they couldn't really do anything more for her and asked her if she would prefer to be at home or in the hospice for her final weeks.
"Ros Taylor, medical director of the hospice of St Francis, was her doctor and she was fantastic. She would come and see Sarah at least once a day and the level of care was superb. Joanna Blake, the physio at the hospice was also great and came round to help.
She added: "lain Rennie nurses provided a constant high level of care. They would come down every day and look after her."
Jenny moved in with Sarah to help provide support and said all those caring for Sarah became close.
She said: "We worked so well together and it became a real family feeling during those days and it became a lovely place to be.
"I hope it made her final days a little better. We did have a lot of laughter in the house as well as the tears.
"It was a lovely place to be although we were aware it was coming to an end."
Dr Ros Taylor told The Gazette: "Throughout a serious illness we need different styles of care. We are lucky enough to have two organisations that can do that in this area.
"This was highlighted in this case. Staff from both the hospices met her needs at home.
"By working together we can ensure the best possible care during the final weeks for the patient."
Sue Varvel, the Director of Nursing at lain Rennie Hospice at Home, said the two hospices worked well together.
She said: "We offer different services. We work side by side and try not to duplicate our services so our resources can be best used to help an increasing number of patients."
The care Sarah received in the last months of her illness at the Hospice of St Francis allowed her to gain the strength to go on a dream holiday to Barbados with her sister.
Jenny said: "Her sister and her husband took her away to Barbados in May last year, at a time when she was feeling quite good.
"She just absolutely loved that holiday.
"She had walks on the beach and swam with turtles and when she came back she was bursting with energy, but not long afterwards she started to deteriorate. It was a lovely final memory for her."
Last Sunday a memorial concert was held at Sunnyside Church in Berkhamsted for Sarah.
All proceeds were split between the Hospice of St Francis and the lain Rennie Hospice at Home.
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