A Tribute to Dame Deborah James
As with all our patients, it has been a privilege and an honour to have cared for Dame Deborah James and her family.
Dame Deborah James, who was known to many as “Bowelbabe”, was cared for by Woking & Sam Beare Hospice’s Community, Hospice at Home and Wellbeing Centre Teams for the last weeks of her life and we continue to remain in contact with her family.
This is something that both Deborah and her family were keen for us to share in order to help us raise awareness about hospice care.
Dame Deborah has done so much to raise awareness of cancer. In particular, she has removed some of the stigma and taboos around bowel cancer. And in the latter part of her illness Deborah has raised important awareness about end of life and hospice care, which the Hospice Sector is extremely grateful for.
Hospice care is a vital part of the healthcare system and operates alongside the NHS. Like our sister hospices up and down the country [which there are approximately 700] we provide palliative and end of life care to patients with life-limiting and terminal illnesses, as well as support for their carers and families.
Most hospices are registered charities and our care is free of charge. We provide holistic care designed to cater for patients’ physical, psychological, social and spiritual needs.
Dame Deborah’s Mum, Heather James, comments:
Woking & Sam Beare Hospice supported Deborah and our family in achieving her wish to be cared for at our home in Woking during her final weeks. In fact, many are surprised to learn that while we do have a 20-bed In-patient Unit at Woking Hospice, approximately 80% of our care is delivered in patient homes across the whole of North West Surrey.
Hayley Fellows, who is the lead for our Community Team, comments: Deborah was a truly inspirational and an exceptionally brave woman. She was determined all the way through to share
her journey to raise money for cancer research and increase awareness, which will have undoubtedly saved many lives. It was therefore an honour to have been asked to take part in the BBC Breakfast’s tribute to her:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/health-48370540
Deborah leaves behind a legacy that will not be forgotten. She constantly would
say to me – have you checked your poo?
As a palliative and end of life specialist nurse, the care and support that myself and my colleagues provide is very personal. At every turn we respect the wishes of our patients. I am often asked ‘how do you do the job you do?’ My answer is that it chose me. It is a privilege to be able to ensure my patients can live well and die with dignity and in peace.
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Bowel cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the UK, with nearly 43,000 people diagnosed every year.
It is the second most common cause of cancer deaths in the UK after lung cancer, taking around 16,500 lives annually.
Symptoms of the disease include changes in bowel habits, blood in faeces, pain in the abdomen, unexplained weight loss and extreme fatigue.
A recent survey by Bowel Cancer UK found that almost half of UK adults cannot name a single symptom of the illness.
If caught early on, bowel cancer can be cured and nearly everyone diagnosed at an early stage survives, Bowel Cancer UK said.