Hospice fulfilled dad's last wish to die at home

When Tracy Lester's dad was diagnosed with oesophageal junction cancer, her world fell apart.

She became his carer in the months following, before his death in May last year.

"It was a shock to us as a family as it all happened so quickly and it was heartbreaking to watch him deteriorate", she said.

Tracy's father, Tony Wilbrey, from Wolverhampton, had been in and out of hospital for treatment before deciding he wanted to spend his final days at home with his family.

"Following his last stay he asked us not to take him to hospital again," Tracy said.

"He asked us to grant him his wish that he wouldn't die alone in hospital and that he could stay at home with us."

Tony was referred to Compton Care's Virtual Ward service, which provides specialist palliative care in patients' own homes.

Tracy said: "We explained to dad that he didn't have to go into hospital but that the Compton team would come out to him at home.

"We even had a paramedic come out to us at one point. They always talked to Dad, and to us, about what was happening with his condition with such clarity and care."

She said the support made an incredibly difficult time more manageable for the family.

"The Compton nurses and doctors would always talk to Dad with compassion, even when he wasn't conscious they would still talk to him. They talked with such kindness," Tracy said.

"This, together with the fact that they were always at the end of the phone 24 hours a day, made everything so much more bearable for us."

Tracy is sharing her family's story as Compton Care marks Hospice Care Week. Rachel Overfield, its chief executive, said the hospice was trying to challenge some of the perceptions people may have about palliative and end-of-life care.

She said: "Our care isn't confined to a hospice building, nor is it only about the very end of someone's life.

"We support people living with life-limiting conditions in many different ways, helping them manage their symptoms, maintain their independence and focus on what matters most to them."

Follow BBC Wolverhampton & Black Country on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.