'Hospice made our dad's last Christmas magical'

"We had a pyjama party, cocktails, buck's fizz and even made prawn cocktails."

One year on, Faye Bramall has been reflecting on her dad Philip's last Christmas, which was spent with his family at a hospice in Derbyshire.

Philip, from Killamarsh, received care at Ashgate Hospice for cancer and Parkinson's disease before his death on 28 December 2023, aged 66.

Faye, 29, said the family "didn't know which way to turn" as Philip declined more quickly than expected, but said the hospice became a "home from home".

Originally from Mosborough in South Yorkshire, Philip was a Sheffield Wednesday fan and keen sportsman.

He was successfully treated for skin cancer in 2013, but was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2016 and then with prostate cancer in 2020.

In October last year, an MRI scan revealed the skin cancer had returned and spread, and he was given a prognosis of two to three years.

But his condition deteriorated and he was admitted to the hospice on 2 November.

"Within a few weeks he was so poorly," Faye said. "We didn't know what to do, we didn't know where to turn, until Ashgate Hospice stepped in and took control of everything.

"They managed to get him stable, and it was like having my dad back.

"He peaked and got back on track with his Parkinson's medication, the care he received was second to none."

The respite proved temporary but Faye said the hospice made his final weeks - and final Christmas - very special.

Faye, from Sheffield, said: "Christmas was dad's favourite time of year, and his wishes were to just celebrate together as a family one last time.

"From walking into the hospice and seeing the Christmas trees, it was just magical in Ashgate during the festive season.

"I'll never forget on Christmas Day, we decided to take Christmas to the hospice. We had a pyjama party, cocktails, buck's fizz and even made prawn cocktails.

"They're such happy memories for me; I'm so grateful the hospice was there so we could focus on spending time with dad."

Faye and her sister Lisa have backed the hospice's Christmas appeal to help it raise the £11m it needs annually, over and above NHS funding.

The hospice said it was only able to operate 15 out of 21 inpatient beds, meaning not all patients who need hospice care are currently able to get it.

The government has recently announced £100m of funding over two years to improve end-of-life care at hospices in England in a bid to tackle the issue.

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