At Prospect Hospice, we provide outstanding, personalised and compassionate care for everyone in Swindon, Marlborough and the surrounding areas affected by a life-limiting illness, completely free of charge. For more than 40 years, we’ve been a dedicated, non-hospital, end-of-life care service for patients and their loved ones - around the clock, every day of the year. Our mission is to ensure that anyone can access the best possible expert care whenever and wherever they need it – whether at the hospice or in their own home. As a charity, we only exist because of the generosity and support of our amazing local community.
Find out about the range of end-of-life care services that we offer to patients and their families. These delivered free of charge and are designed to provide compassionate, personalised support during every stage of a life-limiting illness in every kind of care setting, to anyone who needs it.
We couldn’t do what we do without considerable support from our local community. Find out all the different ways in which you can support Prospect Hospice, including fundraising, volunteering and purchasing from our shops. All contributions are greatly appreciated and enables us to deliver care that is free of charge to our patients and their families.
Our café sits at the heart of our hospice in Wroughton and serves a range of delicious home cooked meals to suit all tastes. Whether you're looking to catch up with friends over lunch or relax with coffee and cake, our Heart of the Hospice café has you covered.
Whether shopping with us in person or online, or donating your pre-loved goods, we thank you for supporting us through our shops where you help to raise around £2million a year for Prospect Hospice.
We pride ourselves on being a great place to work and we're always looking for outstanding people to join our team at the hospice across all areas of the charity.
Prospect Hospice is the leading provider of education and training for end-of-life care in Swindon and north Wiltshire. Working closely with you, our colleagues within partner organisations, we want to ensure that the very best care is available to everyone facing the end of life. This is why we provide education and development opportunities, all of which aim to encourage learning and build confidence in end of life care and support.
When in April 2021 Louise Halford heard a thud inside the bathroom where husband Richard was having a bath, she went to investigate, but couldn’t push the door open. But she could see an ominous dark shadow underneath it.
Richard, 57, had been diagnosed with a terminal brain tumour in November 2020, had had radiotherapy and chemotherapy in January 2021, and was mobile. But when a neighbour managed to get into the bathroom, Richard was confused and disorientated. He was taken to hospital and the doctor there thought he had probably passed out in the bathroom, but he was soon discharged. It was then, says Louise, 43, that Prospect Hospice stepped in, and responded to whatever his medical and social needs were.
“Jenny, a physio at Prospect Hospice, was on our case immediately and she was marvellous. She arranged everything from a bi-fold door in the bathroom, to a chair over the bath so he could shower, and as his condition deteriorated she increased the support we had – a splint and stick for his leg, then a wheelchair, and equipment for the kitchen so he could still do some tasks himself. When we mentioned to Prospect Hospice we were planning to get married, their family support team was great – they suggested we do it before Richard became too confused to sign the register, and helped us to write to the Register Office. We’ve been together 21 years, and got married on 23 February 2021.
“Prospect Hospice carers also helped with washing him, and did night-sits so I could have some full nights’ sleep, and they were absolutely lovely with me, Richard and our three children. They gave me a special phone number, so I could always get an immediate response – you don’t get that anywhere else. All I had to do was phone and the response from Prospect Hospice’s nurses was ‘just leave it to me’ and whatever we needed we got. Nothing was ever too much trouble, and no question was ever considered silly.
“Prospect Hospice makes you calm. They give you all the time you need, and such lovely personal care. And all the creams, and the wipes with seven moisturisers, are free. It would be so costly to have to buy them, but they really are necessary. The night sits are the best thing, though – you couldn’t ask for more, and they so respect your home and dignity. I even arranged for us to have an early family Christmas because we thought Richard might not be with us by late December so for Richard to still be here with us now is amazing. To think Prospect Hospice is a charity, yet manages to do all this. We can’t praise them enough.”
It’s because of you that we’re able to support Louise and Richard. Without you, we won’t be there for others like them. To find out more about how your donations help care for local people, and how to donate, click here.