Our community volunteer programme, described as ‘gentle, invaluable and amazing,’ is seeking local people who would like to support patients in the comfort of their own home. The service provides practical and emotional support in the homes of local patients who have life-limiting illnesses including cancer, COPD, heart failure and neurological conditions such as motor […]
Ali Dronfield-Boyd became a Blythe House community volunteer in June 2019 after retiring early and proactively looking for volunteering opportunities to do ‘something valuable.’ Ali, who hails from Buxton, is currently providing support in the home of a local patient who has motor neurone disease. She explained: ‘I took early retirement in June 2018 and […]
Engineer, Jim Martin started to attend Blythe House in 2018 after cancer in his prostate spread to his bones. The 68-year-old proud grandfather says the hospice is ‘certainly not a “last chance saloon”’ and that he would ‘recommend it to anyone.’ Jim, who’s from New Mills, explains: ‘I was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2003 […]
The reception, porch and a bathroom area at Blythe House Hospicecare are set to undergo a major transformation to ensure the building is accessible to all visitors. The hospice is delighted to be working alongside CRASH, a national charity that is supporting the project by drawing on the professional skills, materials and financial generosity of […]
Philippa Heath, from Chapel-en-le-Frith, became a Hospice at Home healthcare assistant in March 2017 after deciding to apply because of her passion for ‘people to have the choice and the option to die at home.’ Here, she explains more… ‘My husband sadly died two years earlier; it was his preference to be at home until […]
If you are thinking of giving your time to a good cause this year, then look no further than supporting your local hospice. Blythe House Hospicecare is on the lookout for volunteers from all walks of life, to help provide care and services to local patients who have life-limiting illnesses including cancer, COPD, heart failure, […]
Dozens of High Peak residents have given more than £5,400 to a hospice appeal to help ensure local patients at the end of their lives can stay in the comfort of their own home. Blythe House Hospicecare’s Christmas appeal is supporting the hospice’s hugely successful Hospice at Home service. Since it began in 2016, the […]
Sheila Darcy qualified as a nurse specialising in mental health in 1976, beginning her career at Cheadle Royal Hospital. The self-confessed night owl undertook different roles covering mental health, accident and emergency, Alzheimer’s and acute services, at local hospitals including Stepping Hill and Manchester Royal Infirmary. The Disley resident found out about Blythe House’s Hospice […]
Kevin Hawley, affectionately known as Huggy, started to attend Blythe House in 2018 after being diagnosed with carcinoid syndrome. Huggy’s loveable nickname came about in 1976, when he was a firefighter in Derby; with colleagues taking inspiration from the hit TV show, Starsky and Hutch. Huggy, who worked as a firefighter for 35 years across […]
Betty and her husband, Tony have volunteered for Blythe House since 2009, after they relocated to the High Peak from Peterborough. The couple had heard lots about Blythe House during many years holidaying in the area, visiting Tony’s auntie. When they moved here, they knew that they wanted to do something to help. Betty – […]
