Your Hospice, Our News: November 2023
Your Hospice, Our News is filled to the brim with interesting stories and perspectives from key members, volunteers and fundraisers across our organisation. Read our latest newsletter
Cooking: The personal touch at Michael Sobell House
Daniel, our caterer at Michael Sobell House, takes great pride in his work and each meal he creates. As with all aspects of our care his cooking style is based around each person who stays with us. Below Daniel reflects on his role and the importance of our Big Give Christmas Challenge campaign. “I first […]
A testimony of compassionate care – MP Grant Shapps personal story
Grant Shapps MP spoke to our Communications Manager about his and his family’s experiences at our Inpatient Unit at Michael Sobell House. Our Team first cared for Grant’s family in 1982 when his grandmother stayed with us and recently we were able to offer our care once again as we supported Grant’s father during his […]
The Friends of Harlington Hospice
The Friends of Harlington Hospice have been a long running group of volunteers and supporters of our Hospice for nearly 20 years. Many of the current committee members worked alongside Mary Hopkins MBE and her husband Reg Hopkins to help establish the Hospice in Hayes and Harlington. Their fundraising efforts ultimately led to the purchasing […]
Bill’s Story
When Bill first came to stay at our Inpatient Unit (IPU) at Michael Sobell House he was struggling with breathlessness and felt very unwell. Having had a heart attack and struggling with respiratory symptoms, he and his daughter were preparing themselves for his end of life journey. However, through support from the Hospice Team, Bill […]
Thirty-One Years of the Sobell Bridge Club
The Sobell Bridge Club has been a long standing supporter of Michael Sobell House. A club dedicated both to fundraising and to providing a community group, it has raised funds for the building of the Michael Sobell Centre, supported its members throughout COVID-19, and at its heart is a warm and welcoming group. Our Communications […]
Behind the Stethoscope: A Journey of Compassion – Insights from a GP Trainee
In the last week of her 6-month GP trainee rotation at Michael Sobell House, Dr Mariam Koronfel spoke to Harry, our Communications Officer, about her time working on the Inpatient Unit. Mariam shared about her experience of working as part of a multi-disciplinary team, the value of simply being present for someone else, and the […]
Brenda and Kelly’s Story
In Summer 2021, Brenda’s health was declining and it became clear to her and her daughter, Kelly, that they’d benefit from some additional support. Brenda and Kelly worked with Harlington Hospice’s Inpatient Unit and Hospice at Home Teams throughout the rest of Brenda’s life. After a stay in hospital in 2021, it was important to […]
Local community works with Hospice Chaplain to respect religious rite
Imam Rizwan Rawat, chaplain at Michael Sobell House and part of the Spiritual Care Team, was recently involved in organising a Muslim burial over the last week of someone’s life. Here, he discusses the importance of a quick burial in Islam, the organisation of the burial and how working with the Watford Muslim Community made […]
Choices and the Life to Death Transition
Chris West, Wellbeing Services Lead at Harlington Hospice and the Michael Sobell Hospice, spoke to Harry Steele, our Communications Officer, about the importance of discussing end-of-life wishes, the transition from life to death, and the small acts of reassurance that can mean so much to a family. Harry writes below. One of the most […]
