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.
“Over the last few years Stuart had experienced stomach troubles but the doctors couldn’t find anything wrong. Last summer he came in from a round of golf and joked that he needed to get fitter as he was a little breathless,” remembers his wife Sally.
“We were due to go on holiday in September but he went back one last time just to check everything was okay. A nurse felt his stomach and felt something that didn’t feel quite right. He was given the news that he had pancreatic cancer and, devastatingly, it was inoperable.
They didn’t make their holiday. Stuart’s illness took hold and his health declined quickly.
“It was a deeply stressful time for me. I tried to get help wherever I could but I received conflicting information and advice. It was difficult to know what to do for the best.”
In November they received their first call from Prospect Hospice. “Julie called me and we went through all Stuart’s medication, how he was feeling and generally how he was. I felt really good after that call. It was positive and she said someone else would be in touch soon. Sophia called not long after and started to organise a new medication regime that she felt would work better. She also gave me a phone number that I could call at any time of day and someone would answer. It was so nice to know I could speak to someone and wasn’t reliant on answer machines.
“Shortly after, the family support team got in touch and arranged a blue badge and attendance allowance. That’s a complicated form to complete – I’d tried. I felt really supported knowing someone had done this for me and it was ready to use.
“Stuart declined further and couldn’t take his medication. Pauline from the hospice came out as Sophia wasn’t able to and she asked us if we’d take a bed at the hospice if one was available. We’d discussed him being cared for at home but all felt that the inpatient unit was the best option for him and us. The next day Sophia called and we made the necessary arrangements to get him to the hospice.
“It was such a relief for me when we arrived as professionals would now be taking over his care. He was very sick and it was distressing for both him and me. It was a relief that he was now being cared for.
“I remember knowing his final few days must be close as he began quite a decline. His eyes closed and he started to breathe much slower. Around 3am, the nurse suggested I might want to get the family in so I knew we didn’t have long.”
Sally and her boys took shifts to be with Stuart so he was never alone before he died on Tuesday 25 January 2022. The time from the cancer diagnosis to the end of his life spanned just four months.
“The hospice experience for me was such a caring one – not just for Stuart but for all of us. The staff had time for us and nothing was too much trouble. It’s never going to be a nice experience but they made it as good as it can be.”
It’s because of you that we were able to care for Stuart in his last days. Without you, we won’t be there for others like him.
To donate, and help care for local people at the end of their lives, click below.