Warm embraces, tears of reminisce and stories of love and laughter were all shared at a special celebration event, marking 25 years of the Diana Service; a service which provides end of life care and specialist support for children and young people with life-limiting, ongoing and complex needs.
The event saw staff members from the service welcome past and present patients and their families, for an afternoon tea in the Secret Garden marquee at Glenfield Hospital.
For just over a quarter of a century, Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust’s Diana Service has provided support to children with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions across Leicester, Leicestershire, and Rutland, including end of life care. It was set up in 1998, in honour of Princess Diana. Despite launching with only six members of staff, the team is now the largest of the three remaining services in the UK. It has grown to include over 100 dedicated professionals, including nurses, physiotherapists, play specialists and other specialist practitioners.
Recognisable by their purple uniform, the Diana Service ethos is to allow children to be children, whatever their care needs may be, and to support them to live fulfilling lives at home with their families and in their local community.
Over the years, the Diana Service nurses and health professionals have delivered compassionate care to thousands of children and young people in their own homes, allowing them to be with their loved ones during the most challenging times. The service also provides emotional and psychological support to the entire family, helping siblings and parents to navigate through their pain and grief.
Katie Willetts, senior nurse in the Diana Service, said: “We are so proud of our service and the work we have done over the past 25 years. Before the Diana Service, children would have to go to hospital for care or if their parents required respite. With our help, they can just be children in the safety and comfort of their own homes, and enjoy a sense of normality, while getting the care they need.
“When we start working with a child or young person, we become part of their family; we share their journey from the early stages of diagnosis, to supporting their daily routines and in some cases, through to the pain and poignant moments at the end of life. It is an honour and a privilege to do this work.”
One person who attended the celebration event with his family was 11-year-old Sobhan, who needs 24-hour ventilation and receives regular support from The Diana Service in his home.
Sobhan said: “They are very nice to me. They do my cares and they talk to me. We do activities and we watch TV together and we play. Sometimes when I need help moving myself, they will help me. It is important to be at home because home is the safest place. Life is difficult without the Diana team. Happy 25th anniversary Diana team, thank you for supporting us.”
During the celebration event, a range of anniversary initiatives, to support families and raise awareness of the work delivered by the Diana Service, were announced. This included a new bench that will be installed at Bradgate Park, to provide a dedicated, reflective space for those touched by the service, including staff, patients, and families.
Additionally, everyone in attendance was given a special certificate to let them know their limited-edition Diana Service 25th anniversary bears would soon be delivered to them. The bears, donated by the Build a Bear Foundation, will also be given to all current patients of the service.
Julie Potts, palliative care lead in the Diana Service, added: “We are so grateful for the support we have received from the local community over the past 25 years. We are so passionate about providing our patients with the best care we can, and all donations allow us to provide those little extras that can make a huge difference to our families – helping them to create precious memories and navigate through some of the most challenging times.”
The service also uses donations from the community to buy memory boxes, Love Cushions, and Therapeutic Stories, which all help to provide comfort and connection for families supported by the service.
All these initiatives, including the afternoon tea, were organised and funded through donations raised by Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust’s registered charity, Raising Health.
For more information about donating to the Diana Service, please visit www.raisinghealth.org.uk/ . If you would like to make a donation, please specify ‘Diana Service’ in the other details section at the checkout.
For more information about the service, including inspiring stories from past and present Diana Service patients and staff members, including Sobhan, please watch the special commemorative film: