“THESE angels came and they gave us our lives back,” said David Jackson, praising Prospect Hospice’s care for his son Ben during the last months of his life.

The 32-year-old, who had Duchenne muscular dystrophy, died peacefully at home on July 20, surrounded by his family and the Prospect@Home nurses who had supported him.

His father wants to raise awareness of the free support available from the Wroughton-based hospice during Hospice Care Week, which runs from October 5 to October 11.

“The level of care and professionalism from ‘Ben’s Angels’ was incredible,” said David.

“It’s easy to think you are big enough and strong enough, and that you can cope, but you can’t do it on your own. We needed the help and we needed the right help, and that’s what Prospect gave us.”

As time went on, the nurses and staff at the Prospect@Home team became part of the family.

“They all knew just what to do and, as Ben weakened, the increasing support was awesome not just from a care and nursing point of view but the family support was exceptional,” said David.

“We knew that if in the middle of the night Ben needed support they would be there.”

It wasn’t until Ben became very unwell during a trip to Spain in August 2013 that the family first learned about the Prospect@Home service.

“Ben wasn’t going to languish away in hospital, he wanted to be at home,” said David.

“It was really important that he was at home and because of his complex needs he needed to have one-toone, sometimes two-to-one care, which we wouldn’t have got anywhere else.

“We’ve always lived in Wroughton and we always knew Prospect was here, but we didn’t realise just how much support is available and who for.

“They still call to make sure we’re OK. We don’t need what they are offering but it’s nice to have that call all the same, to know it is there if we need it.”

Prospect@Home has been running for around seven years, with 12,000 hours dedicated to providing at-home care last year alone.

Team leader Jane Green said: “Prospect@Home offers practical, hands-on care and support for patients at home, whether it be extra support at the end of their lives or while they need it.

“We offer support up to 24 hours a day.

“It’s all about enabling the patient to receive the care they need as they want to receive it to make it as comfortable for them as possible.”

To find out more about Prospect@Home and visit http://www.prospect-hospice.net/Our-Care/Caring-for-you-at-home/ProspectHomewww.prospect-hospice.net/Our-Care/Caring-for-you-at-home/ProspectHome.

To find out more about Hospice Cares Week visit hospiceuk.org/policy-campaigns/campaigns/hospice-care-week.