Ros and Alan MacInnes

Ros MacInnes has worked as a theatre nurse for most of her life at hospitals all over west London. Ros grew up in Birmingham and moved to London in the early 1970s, where she met Alan and they settled in Hammersmith.

Just before Christmas 2014 I developed a pain in my chest. I was so busy in the build up to Christmas and I delayed doing anything about it, but it got worse so I went to the doctor’s.

The doctor told me I had lung cancer. He said I would probably live for six months without chemotherapy, or 18 months with. The chemo was horrendous and I was very poorly. I had to be admitted to hospital twice because of complications.

I first heard about Pembridge in April 2015 after Jane the community nurse came to see me at home and invited me to visit the day hospice. I worked as a theatres nurse for most of my life but I was not sure what to expect. I thought it might be like an old people’s home and I had recently stayed at some local hospitals where I felt like the people looking after me didn’t care.

Coming to Pembridge was different though. The whole team are so lovely and I only wish I had heard about it earlier.

If you have an off day everyone understands what you are going through and there is no judgment.

Soon after I started coming to Pembridge I fell over in the street and it completely knocked the confidence out of me. I fell on my face, broke my glasses and had two lovely black eyes! Claire the day hospice manager made sure I got the care I needed and Vanessa the rehab assistant understood how I was feeling. She helped me to regain my confidence and has overseen my progress in cooperation with other local physiotherapists.

The art sessions are brilliant. I had not painted since school and did not want to take part for a while, but it has been really helpful and the interaction with the other people in the art sessions is great.

The massage therapy is excellent too and they get the balance just right. It helps to relax me and eases the pain to a certain degree.

My husband Alan and I were both working right up to my diagnosis but since then I have had to stop and Alan doesn’t work as much because he wants to look after me.

We asked Ros’ husband Alan what he thought of Pembridge

I drop Ros off every week and have been in several times. Everyone is very helpful. I have seen the benefits for Ros and I know how much she enjoys it.

Coming to Pembridge has helped to put a bit of structure back into our lives.

With your support today, people like Ros and Alan can continue to receive the best possible care from the Pembridge team to make the most of the time they have.

Update to this story: Ros died in early August 2016. Several members of the Pembridge team were able to attend the memorial service to pay their respects and be with Alan. It was a touching and very emotional celebration of Ros’ life. Alan encouraged people to give to Pembridge in her memory and we are truly grateful for their support.

Donate now

Fundraise for us

All/Patients/Pembridge People/Staff/Volunteers

Sylvia

“It’s a shocker, you hear hospice and you think that’s where you end up before you float away. Now I know it’s a place you can come and you don’t float away.”

Sylvia

“It’s a shocker, you hear hospice and you think that’s where you end up before you float away. Now I know it’s a place you can come and you don’t float away.”

Sylvia

“It’s a shocker, you hear hospice and you think that’s where you end up before you float away. Now I know it’s a place you can come and you don’t float away.”