“This is ripping the fight out of us” – those are the words of a terminally ill woman fearful for the future of her hospice service since it was transferred to a hospital ward.

Sandra Crowe, 73, from Northwood posted the emotional appeal on July 20 on Michael Sobell Hospice’s own website in response to the charity’s inpatient service at Mount Vernon Hospital being moved to the hospital’s cancer centre wards.

Sandra, who has Crohn’s disease, osteoarthritis and heart disease was given just six months to live three-and-a-half years ago. She has been receiving palliative care from the hospice ever since and says it is her “only lifeline”.

Watford Observer:

In her online plea, she writes: “Today they pulled the beds out into the corridor, everything is being pulled out and this is ripping the fight out of us who are already finding life a very hard struggle.

“I beg those in authority to fight for us to have our very special home reinstated. We do not want to be on wards, this is as close as possible to a home environment.”

The Michael Sobell Hospice Charity published a statement on June 1 citing “major structural problems” had forced the “interim” move, adding it had made the funds available to ensure that no patient receiving palliative care would be affected.

But the Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust – which owns Michael Sobell House – published a response on July 1 saying the reason for the move being structural problems was “incorrectly reported”; that an historic structural issue was “fully addressed” in 2017 and that the whole building was underpinned.

Sandra Crowe

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She told the Watford Observer: “You cannot mix patients fighting cancer with those in need of palliative care. I am so angry about it. It’s not suitable, it’s an emotional experience and it’s very frightening for me because all I have is the hospice and my dogs, Romeo and Juliet.”

She went on to say the hospice was a lifeline in the face of her potentially dying alone. In her statement she said: “I personally have no family in the UK and staff and the patients are my family and support and we all care for each other.

She added: "In this country this is absolutely appalling. I want it reopened because its been underpinned. It is just appalling because there’s nothing wrong with it.”

Sandra, who lives at home alone, takes a range of vital medication eight-times-a-day including injecting pain relief treatment directly into tubes in her stomach. She said she lives in “constant pain”.

Her husband, Barry, died at home in 2009 with liver cancer. He helped to install a public space named the “Crowe’s Nest” near their family home in Northwood which was officially opened by Sandra with the support of Hillingdon councillor and friend, Scott Seaman-Digby, shortly after Barry died.

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Sandra said cutting the ribbon at the opening ceremony was the “hardest moments of her life”. Before he died, days before the ceremony, Barry apologised to Sandra for leaving her “alone to deal with things”.

Since the Day Centre was transferred to the oncology wards, Sandra said the atmosphere among staff and patients was one of “deep sadness” adding: “It’s gone from the happiest place to horrendously miserable. Moral is horrendous.”

On July 12, the Michael Sobell Hospice Charity Board of Trustees said it would hold “listening and engagement” events as part of a review and consultation process on a “future model of care and potential locations”. A working group has also been set up to consider all options presented.

Rosalind Williams, chairman of the board of trustees, said: “This decision was made in the best interests of patients and their families, and the care that is needed. The relocation was because of current concerns about the inpatient unit environment whilst a permanent solution is sought.”

A petition exceeding 7,800 signatures was delivered to the office of Judi Byrne, chief executive officer of the Michael Sobell Hospice Charity on June 9 by volunteers concerned over the charity’s future.