Sue’s Story

Sue’s story is told by her daughter, Becky.

Sue Varvel had been a nurse with the charity since the early days of Iain Rennie Hospice at Home, when she retired she was Rennie Grove’s  Director of Nursing & Clinical Services.  Unfortunately, Sue was diagnosed with a life-limiting illness in 2022 and was cared for by Rennie Grove Peace. Following in her mum’s footsteps, Becky started working as a Hospice at Home nurse with the charity in 2014. Becky tells her mum’s story.

Supporting the family

“When Mum was diagnosed, she became very unwell, very quickly. I was keen for Rennie Grove to get involved right from the start as I knew that the Hospice at Home team could support all of our needs. I may be a trained nurse but in this case I was a patient’s daughter and it’s entirely different. As well as the care and support for Mum’s clinical needs, my sister and I needed the reassurance that comes from having a team at the end of the phone to call any time for advice and support.

As well as the nursing team, Mum was referred to the Rapid Personalised Care service. This is the team that provides personal care to patients in their own home. We were so pleased to have their support and Mum was thrilled with the high standard of care she received.”

“Every member of the team who came to the house was just incredible – so kind, caring and compassionate. I will never forget each of them and two of the carers were even with us when Mum died, which provided great comfort to our family”

“Mum died just a week before my wedding. On the day she died, a Hospice at Home nurse helped me to wash Mum and together we dressed her in the outfit she would have worn to our wedding.  This was such a special moment and I was so grateful to have the support of the team to help me at such a difficult and poignant time.  

For me, the whole experience of being on the other side of the service offered by Rennie Grove Peace was really eye opening. It gave me a completely different perspective on what our patients and their families go through.   

Every member of staff from the admin staff to the Hospice at Home team and the Rapid Personalised Care Service team made a huge difference to our family and I want to ensure that every other local family that needs this level of support, is able to access it.”