When Lesley Pritchard arrived at Pendleside Hospice’s Inpatient Unit (IPU) in May, she had been living with unrelenting pain following a rare diagnosis of thyroid cancer.
After nine weeks of care and support, she left feeling – in her own words – “like the team at Pendleside have put me back together.”
“I went through a lot of pain at the start of this year,” Lesley said. “I was having tests and scans done around March, to try and get to the bottom of it. The pain in my neck and back kept getting worse, and physiotherapy wasn’t working. I started to lose weight, and my appetite disappeared.”
It wasn’t until a CT scan and biopsy was carried out that the cause was found. That's when everything started to move very quickly.
“On the day of my consultation, I received a call to say that I shouldn’t be moving my neck at all,” Lesley explained. “I was rushed to Blackburn Hospital in an ambulance and stayed there a while, before agreeing to radiotherapy. For the next two weeks, I travelled back and forth to Preston every day for treatment, which was exhausting.”
“Luckily, I knew what Pendleside could offer,” she said. “I spoke to a nurse about a self-referral. Not many people know that Pendleside’s Inpatient Unit covers the Rossendale area, but three weeks later, I was admitted into the IPU."
Lesley has since moved into residential care, due to needing 24-hour round-the-clock support, but says the difference the Hospice made to her wellbeing is something she’ll never forget.
“It’s not about what they do at Pendleside,” she added, “it’s who they are. From the volunteers to the doctors and nurses, to the domestic staff, the cooks and the gardeners, they’re all wonderful. The place is upbeat, which is the exact opposite of what you might think. Don’t expect to come here and feel miserable!”
Lesley was born and raised in Rossendale and has dedicated much of her life to helping others. After graduating from Manchester University, she moved to Zambia, where she spent 10 years teaching English and Geography alongside her first husband, whom she met at university.
“I’m proud of the work I did there,” she said. “We taught in a boys’ secondary school and helped two of our pupils go on to national school and eventually the University of Zambia.”
Lesley returned to the UK and retrained in social care, going on to work at Rossendale Hospital and later, at St Peter’s Centre in Burnley.
“I really enjoyed my time at Rossendale Hospital,” she said. “We had a really good multi-disciplinary team, and we all worked together so well. I mostly worked in the community and as a hospital social worker. I eventually retired 14 years ago, after spending over 30 years working in the social care sector.”
Lesley also volunteered on reception at Bury Hospice and was a member of the Soroptimists, supporting women and girls through volunteer work.
Her daughter Lindsay said, “I don’t know how my mum did it all. She built a wonderful career for herself, is a fantastic mum, and has always been a huge supporter of charity work. She’s also a brilliant cook and seamstress, and often used to make costumes for Ramsbottom Theatre. My mum’s talents knew no bounds – when my brothers and I were younger, she’d decorate our rooms at any opportunity and take us on fantastic family holidays.”
“How she also had time to read and watch her favourite crime documentaries, I do not know!”
Lesley had two children while living abroad, and a third child, Neil, with her second husband. Tragically, Neil passed away three years ago, aged 44.
“We’re not a big family,” Lesley said. “I’m an only child, and so was my first husband. But we’re close. I love people and I thrive from being around others and helping where I can.”
“I have so many lovely memories to take away with me, from my time at Pendleside Hospice. When it was my grandson Max’s graduation, the staff here made sure I was able to watch it livestreamed – with a prosecco in hand! I also loved that dogs could visit, which always brought a smile to my face when they came around. Even just being able to look out of the window and watch the birds and squirrels at the feeders was so wonderful to see.”
For Lindsay, knowing her mum was in safe hands brought a huge sense of relief. “Knowing my mum was being taken care of was a huge weight lifted,” she said. “We are so grateful for her care, as well as the positive experiences she’s had. Everyone is so caring and considerate – Pendleside just wants the best for everyone. They haven’t just looked after my mum – they’ve looked after all of us.”
Pendleside Hospice is here to offer care, comfort and support when it matters most.
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