Fitting tribute to much loved Ann
The family and friends of a much loved former health care support worker have donated £1,400 to the Macmillan Occupational Therapist Team which did its best to support her.
Ann Diplock was known to so many people through her work on ward one at Neath General Hospital, and, later in her career, at Neath Port Talbot Hospital’s Dermatology Day Unit, having worked into her 70s.
Ann, of Port Talbot, was also an enthusiastic supporter of her rugby star son, Richard, who played for Aberavon, Bridgend and Wales.
Sadly she was taken ill before Christmas last year and admitted onto ward 12 in Singleton Hospital.
Although her cancer was terminal, such was the care and commitment of all staff the family decided to ask for donations rather than flowers at her funeral.
Richard said: “With the care and the compassion the staff showed, we thought, when mum passed – she came home in December and passed away in January two weeks later –that rather than flowers, my sister Rachel set up a Justgiving page.
“Mum was admitted last October with a cancer that we obviously didn’t know about, and she went up to ward 12.
“After an operation there wasn’t a great deal they could do because the cancer had gone too far, but the care and consideration she received was exceptional.
“All the staff, from the janitors and cleaners, to the doctors and nurses, just made mum’s stay more bearable.
“They say she was an easy patient - mum lived for life. With the sea view, looking out over Mumbles, it was like a five star room for her because she could see the beach every day and the sun, which she loved.
“She walked Aberavon beach each day whatever the weather… she was a fixture for the beach. Everyone knew Ann.”
Richard and his sister Rachel were taken aback by the support they received.
He said: “We were humbled by the amount of people. Mum was well-known and loved by so many.
“It was a fitting tribute and we thought it has got to go to a good cause.
“We chose the Therapy Team on ward 12 because that’s where mum stayed.
“They were the ones who tried to put mum on the right road.
“It’s just a thank you from us.”
Leanne Thomas, Macmillan Occupational Therapist Team Lead, thanked the family for their kind donation.
She said: “Despite how unwell Ann was some days, she would always look forward to her therapy sessions. She engaged positively with the OT and physios for her rehab on the ward, and in planning her discharge home for her end of life care.
“She enjoyed the rehab side of things – I think it kept her positive every day.”
Leanne said the money would be used to help others.
She said: “We are going to use this money for rehabilitation equipment that will benefit ward 12 patients - I think that’s a very fitting tribute to their mum.
“It’s an amazing amount of money and shows how well-known and loved Ann was.
“She was a health care support worker in Neath Port Talbot for years and worked into her 70s. She wanted to keep her hand in, she wasn’t ready to retire.”
Ward 12 is part of the South West Wales Cancer Centre, or SWWCC. It is run by Swansea Bay University Health Board and provides a range of lifesaving NHS treatments such as radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy.
It celebrates its 20th anniversary this year and a fundraising appeal has been launched by Swansea Bay Health Charity, the health board’s official charity, to commemorate the landmark.
The appeal, Going the Extra Mile for Cancer, will support the thousands of patients from the Swansea Bay and Hywel Dda areas who are cared for there every year, as well as relatives and staff.
Cathy Stevens, a community support charity officer with Swansea Bay Health Charity, said: “We’d like to thank the family for making this incredible donation to the ward.
“To think of the ward at this sad time shows how much the family value the staff for the care they gave Ann.”
Follow this link if you want to support the Going the Extra Mile for Cancer appeal.
And follow this link to find out more about Going the Extra Mile for Cancer.
Pictured from left to right: Richard Diplock, Brianna Maier, Occupational Therapist (OT), Jo Parry, Physiotherapist, Leanne Thomas, Macmillan Team Lead Occupational Therapist, Rhodri Johnson, Specialist Physiotherapist, Kimi Exley, Physiotherapist, Wendy Taylor, OT student, Sophie Kirby, Macmillan Team Lead Physiotherapist, Alison Perkins, OT Tech, Rachel Cusano, OT Tech, Victoria Edwards
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