The Paul Sartori Foundation, Pembrokeshire’s hospice-at-home charity, has received a generous donation of £2,336 from the Tenby Round Table.

The donation has been used to purchase two specialised Minuet 2 hospital-style beds, providing much-needed comfort to patients in their own homes.

Representatives from the Tenby Round Table were invited to Paul Sartori House, the charity’s headquarters earlier this month to meet the team and to learn more about the impact of their funding. The Paul Sartori Equipment Loan Team explained how the beds significantly improve the comfort and care of end-of-life patients in Pembrokeshire.

Even if the beds are used for a day, a week, or a month, the gratitude from families is clear. Amanda Elmes Equipment Assistant and Mark Bunyan Equipment Technician from Paul Sartori gave a demonstration of one of the beds, highlighting its special features and how it helps patients fulfil their wish to return home from hospital to spend their final days in comfort.

Tenby Round Table chairman Will Davies shared that the donation followed unanimous agreement by the group to support the important work of Paul Sartori, saying: “The decision to donate was made because we all strongly believe in the invaluable service the Foundation provides to families in need.”

Joost Geertman, Past President of the Tenby Round Table, added a personal note, sharing that he had recently accessed the services of the charity for a family member. He expressed his gratitude, saying: “It’s heartening to see how the services provided by Paul Sartori support people at the most critical times of their lives, which I know firsthand how much of a difference this makes to families locally.”

In 2023/2024, the Loan Team delivered over 1,700 items of equipment, including beds, wheelchairs, commodes, chairs, and mattresses to patients at no cost.

Pat Coombs, Clinical Coordinator and Equipment Facilitator for the charity, emphasised the crucial role the team play in complementing statutory services: “We are incredibly grateful to the Tenby Round Table for their donation. We rely heavily on donations and grant providers to sustain our service so we can continue to complement other services locally. Beds are one of the most important items of equipment we loan offering comfort and support at a time when it is most needed.”

The Paul Sartori Foundation was established in memory of Father Paul Sartori, a much loved local priest, who recognised a need for hospice care, but unfortunately died of cancer at the age of 39. The Foundation was set up in his memory and provides care to people with any or no faith, and not just Catholics.

Supporting patients and their families during some of the most difficult times in their lives, the charity provides a range of services to support patients with life-limiting illnesses, including home nursing care, complementary therapy, bereavement and counselling support, physiotherapy, advance care planning and training. These services are complemented by a 24-hours advice line, 7-days a week, with a standby service for people who do not yet need hands-on care.