Spring Appeal 2026
A Different Kind of Care
NI Hospice patient Paul Garrett – a 60-year-old loving husband, a devoted father and proud grandfather – recently told us about his cancer diagnosis and care, alongside his NI Hospice Community Nurse, Rachel Turner.
“Telling people was one of the hardest things. But we try to we try to keep it away from the grandkids. They’re all under ten, but you’d be surprised how smart they are. My hair fell out over the last month and a half, and one of the grandkids asked their Dad, ‘Has Paul got cancer?’ But what can you say, you can’t lie to them.
“Hospice was first mentioned right from the very start of diagnosis. I was automatically thinking ‘No, you’re not putting me anywhere!’ Once you hear about community nurses like Rachel, then it’s grand I don’t want to be morbid, but my cancer is incurable, so I would rather die at home than in Hospice or in a hospital.
“I have to say, from day one, my cancer care in the City Hospital and the Hospice’s community nurses like Rachel – the people have been absolutely fantastic. Rachel is here whenever I need her. This week, she was only just back from holiday, she called straight round because there were issues to be sorted – and she was dying to show off her tan! Seriously though, she’s been brilliant for the past ten months. Whenever you know somebody like Rachel is on the end of the phone for you, what more do you need?
“I know I’m dying, so I need to know there’s security before I go anywhere. That’s why Rachel contacted the social worker, because finances were another worry, and within hours a support plan was in place. Rachel does everything. She rang me yesterday because I have an issue with this fluid in my stomach. And she phoned to liaise with Donna, the district nurse, who’s also fantastic as well. Brilliant team.”
Rachel said: “Paul had a long stint in hospital recently, and I just wanted to check in with Jennifer, see how they both were doing. Jennifer has different feelings about Paul’s diagnosis than he does. So it’s my job to look after the whole family, not just Paul.
“Paul obviously has complex symptoms, pain, sickness so there’s a lot to cover every time I visit. But it’s just about being that support for Paul, knowing what Paul’s wishes are, and trying to make that happen as best that we can.”
“I have been a bit of a hard patient”, admits Paul.
“You’re awkward sometimes but that’s okay!”, says Rachel. “And sometimes we have to be creative. The care is very patient centred, so you have to tailor it. I know that drugs aren’t Paul’s big thing, so maybe we’ll try something different, or we’ll leave it for now, and then I’ll check in again in a couple of days.
“Paul was rushed to hospital recently and I thought he wasn’t going to come out. And that really hit me as a nurse, because it was unexpected that time. It’s very hard as a community nurse when the care then is in the hospital, because that would have been it, the hard, absolute cut-off, that’s my job done. It’s a tough part of our job when we lose that connection.
Paul says, “Rachel’s visit helps me through the day. And she always leaves with a smile on her face too. It’s collaborative. That’s the way to be, straight with each other and that balance works for me, and it seems to work for the nurses.”
“Paul has made me feel like I can come in and sit down and have a chat and be very comfortable,” says Rachel. “It’s great for Paul that I can phone the GP to let him know what’s happening and then Jennifer can go and get scripts, it takes the pressure off the family, phoning to get through to the GP. And the good relationship we have with the District Nurses, we all know Paul’s care as it’s happening.”
“Most people who Hospice supports are cared for by the community nursing teams. People forget that it is my job to try and keep people out of Hospital, like somebody in Paul’s condition who’s not at the end stage.
“When it does get to that end, it’s a massive privilege to have looked after somebody for a prolonged length of time, and then to be able to give them their wishes of dying at home is just amazing.
“There’s a professional boundary to maintain, but we’re having hard discussions sometimes about death, dying and pain, finances and grandkids. This job covers so much scope that it’s important to have that kind of relationship. I wouldn’t be able to do my job if we didn’t.”
Sadly Paul recently died, on 2nd April 2026 – at home, surrounded by his loving family, as per his final wishes.
Your support can help us continue to be there for our patients and families, like Paul's.
Paul's Story - Spring Appeal
Listen as Paul & Rachel tell us how they much Hospice care helped & worked for them.
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