I’m sure many of you will have heard of Forest Holme, either directly or through friends who may have been able to benefit from this exceptional and valuable resource. But I know from experience, that many locals are not aware of its existence or of the wonderful work they carry out for families dealing with life-limiting illness and the loss of their loved ones.
Forest Holme Hospice provides individually tailored quality palliative care and support to around 1,000 adults of all ages each year across Poole, Wimborne and the Isle of Purbeck, with advanced cancer and other life-limiting illnesses such as Motor Neurone Disease, Parkinson’s, heart disease and respiratory illness.
The hospice is part of Poole Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and is supported by Forest Holme Hospice Charity, who need to raise an additional £850,000 each year to help enhance the NHS provision at the hospice.
The hospice has a team of specialist doctors, nurses, counsellors and specialist care teams who provide practical and emotional support for adults of all ages and their families in a variety of settings, such as their own home, nursing home, care home, in hospital or in the hospice itself. Access to the care provided by the hospice is prompted by GP referral.
Forest Holme also offers counselling and bereavement support to both newly diagnosed individuals and family members, as it understands that care extends beyond physical treatment of symptoms, as the emotional, psychological, spiritual and social needs of patients, their families, children and carers all need to be considered.
However, to ensure that these essential services are there for others in the future, Forest Holme Hospice Charity needs continued local community support to raise an additional 1.6 million pounds over the next two years. Additional funding is required to support all aspects of the hospice including the in-patient ward, the purchasing of specialist equipment, the funding of additional staffing posts, complementary therapies, and the bereavement counselling service.
Covid 19 has dealt a blow to our way of life … and death … in so many different ways and all charities are suffering mightily from its impact. However, I would hate to think that other local families in the future would be less fortunate than I was in my darkest hour …Forest Holme provided me and my husband with the opportunity to spend special quality time together at one of the most important part of our lives. Since I lost him, the Forest Holme community has welcomed me with open arms and supported me in so many ways! By raising awareness of their value to the community, I hope I can repay them in some small way.
Caroline Fowler
For more information about Forest Holme, look at their website: www.forestholmehospice.org.uk
