A day in the life...Laura, our Writer & Content Creator

Hello, I'm Laura, Writer and Content Creator at Dove House. I joined in November 2019 after earning a Marketing degree. After having my son, I wanted my work to have more purpose, and a friend sent me the job ad— it felt meant to be. Like many, I once thought a hospice was just a place to die, but it's so much more. I'm proud to help challenge that misconception and show how the hospice improves quality of life from diagnosis, not just at the end. The first thing that really surprised me when walking into the hospice was how much of a happy place it is. It feels warm and inviting and five years later I still feel that walking in every day.

The hospice is truly amazing, with every department playing a vital role. The care given to patients, families, and service users is exceptional, and it's inspiring to see how everyone goes above and beyond. A big part of my role is capturing the experiences of patients and families at Dove House. I hear so many heartwarming stories, and it makes me proud to be part of an organisation that creates such special moments during families' toughest times.

There are so many wonderful things that happen at Dove House everyday but some of my favorites recently is a Care Assistant buying a paper for a patient every day. He didn’t have family that were able to visit, and he just couldn’t settle without his morning paper. It might seem like such a small thing, but it really made such a difference to him and helped him feel comfortable and safe at the hospice. When I first started at the hospice a patient mentioned to a nurse how she really fancied a pint. When her daughter came in to visit her not long after she was sat up in bed with a pint and a straw. It really made both of their day. She felt heard and brought her daughter joy to see her mum happy.

Over the years, I’ve witnessed countless picnics in the garden, providing families with a moment of peace. Families often tell me it’s the little gestures, like offering a cup of tea or giving them the space to take a break that stick with them.

After gathering stories, I work closely with families to ensure the writing reflects their experience. We use these stories to reach more people who don’t realise how early they can access hospice care. One woman recently shared that reading stories on our website helped her find the support she needed during dark days.

I'm excited to continue spending time with patients and working with teams across the hospice to share more stories and break down hospice care myths, so more families can get the care they need earlier.