To mark Hospice Care Week (9th-15th October), Alison Moore from North London Hospice spoke to musician Barry about his experience there

Hospice care comes in many forms. For Barry, our music therapy and breathlessness and fatigue groups have helped him realise that life is still there for living.

As a musician – the frontman and drummer in a reggae band for many years – Barry brings an infectious and encouraging passion to the weekly music therapy group at North London Hospice in Winchmore Hill, home of our outpatient and wellbeing services. He has even the most reserved attendee tapping their feet or picking up a tambourine and joining in!

“I love that class,” says the 55-year-old father-of-seven from Enfield. “It gives people a real sense of confidence, inclusion and encourages expression. It gets you out of the house and gives us all something to do that doesn’t revolve around medical appointments. You can just be in the moment. Every week, everyone that attends, leaves feeling better than when they arrived.”

Diagnosed four years ago, Barry is living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) emphysema, which in the last two years has seen his breathing deteriorate. It was in December 2022 after being admitted to intensive care with breathing difficulties for the third time that hospice support was recommended.

“I was very frightened. It was scary for my family too, but my body just wasn’t working, and I knew North London Hospice would look after me. They’d have the care facilities and the expertise to help. But they’ve given me so much more.

“Sometimes you need to talk to someone, other than your family, and they are always there if I need to talk. They make me feel things are okay. The hospice has been able to really support my mental wellbeing.”

Our specialist teams provide individualised care planning that always tries to help patients achieve ‘the best of life, at the end of life’. In Barry’s case this involves regular home visits by specialist nurses who monitor his medication and have helped him manage his anxiety, and bi-weekly visits from our physiotherapist Rob, who takes him for walks to build and maintain strength.

Barry says: “He always encourages me to go just that little bit further. I’ve made real progress, thanks to Rob.”

Barry also attends our breathlessness and fatigue sessions, which have given him coping strategies and help him continue to sing.

“My condition means I often struggle for breath. There are six or seven people at each session who are going through the same or similar things as me, and that makes me feel like I’m not alone. The sessions have provided me with techniques on how to cope in situations if I panic or get out of breath.”

Barry has six sons and a daughter and is once again able to make music with one of his sons: “I’ve played the drums since the Boys’ Brigade, and it makes me happy to still be able to play and make music with my son. I do it in stages and he puts it all together.”

He adds: “The support of the hospice has been a life saver to me. My world was crumbling around me, and I was at risk of becoming a hermit. The care they are giving me, has given me the confidence to be my extrovert self again! They’ve made me realise I can still live my life; I just can’t run around the block any more!”

If you’re interested in finding out more about the support North London Hospice can offer, an open afternoon is being held on Tuesday, 10th October, from 2pm. Register your interest:
Visit eventbrite.co.uk/e/north-london-hospice-open-afternoon-in-celebration-of-hospice-care-week-tickets-710178572227?aff=oddtdtcreator

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