Bereaved family donate care costs to hospice

The family of a man who died from an industrial disease have recovered the costs of his care in the final months of his life – and have donated the money to the hospice which was “such a fantastic support” to them all.

Vincent Downton passed away in October 2023, aged 63, a year after being diagnosed with mesothelioma, which is caused by asbestos exposure.

Unbeknown to him, during his career as a painter and decorator, he was extensively exposed to the toxic substance between 1977 and 1982 – although it was almost 40 years later before any symptoms of the cruel disease appeared.

As his condition quickly worsened following his diagnosis in October 2022, Vincent – along with his wife Carol and son Bradley – were supported by Salisbury Hospice.

The family credits the “amazing” team at the hospice with them being able to enjoy one last holiday together in Majorca in September before Vincent passed away, allowing them to make precious memories.

Vincent also spent his final weeks in Salisbury Hospice, with its team ensuring he and his family were cared for and supported in every way possible.

To show their gratitude, Carol and Bradley turned to law firm Slater and Gordon to help them recover the costs of caring for Vincent – and have now been able to donate £23,547.42 to support the care of others.

“Vincent’s reaction when he was told he had mesothelioma, which was something we’d never even heard of, was that he wanted to live his life and he was going to beat it. He wanted us to go on holiday to Majorca – and if it wasn’t for the support of Salisbury Hospice in helping to manage his pain, that would never have been possible,” says Carol, who lives in Salisbury.

“Later, after we came back from holiday, Vincent was so poorly that he needed to go into the hospice full time. Although that was very scary for us, he had them eating out of his hand. It was very much ‘Vincent’s way’, they made everything totally bespoke for him. He was constantly surprising them. He wanted to walk around the hospice, despite how ill he was, and he showed them that he could do it.

“The staff and volunteers were absolutely amazing with him, we will never forget that. Vincent said he felt secure in the hospice, and we as a family felt supported the whole time. They did everything for us they possibly could.”

Bradley adds: “When we first heard the word ‘hospice’ we immediately thought ‘end of life’, which is terrifying and I remember panicking. But that’s not necessarily what it means, people don’t need to be scared – this hospice was so much more to us than what we first imagined. They were there for us anytime, they visited dad at home, they advised on his medication, they enabled us all to go on holiday, and when he was staying in there, the care and attention he received was fantastic.

“Donating this money means a huge amount to us, we are so grateful for everything the hospice did for dad and for our family. If we can help even one other family, then that’s all we want.”

Vincent Downton

Tom Goodinge, Director of Fundraising and Marketing at Salisbury Hospice, says: “We are incredibly thankful to the Downton family for their generous donation. It is a heartfelt gesture that reflects the trust they placed in our care during such a difficult time.

“Their kindness will make a meaningful difference, helping us continue to provide compassionate support to other patients and families in our community.”

The family were supported by HASAG, a specialist asbestos disease support service which signposts and supports families affected by mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. Its specialist service enabled Carol and Bradley to access counselling to deal with Vincent's diagnosis and their grief.

"We are committed to supporting whole families through the devastation of diagnosis and everything that comes after - as an organisation, we are there every step of the way to enable everything from advising on benefits and practical assistance, through to peer support and counselling,” says Lynne Squibb, Chief Executive of HASAG.

"The grief and trauma of a loved one being diagnosed with mesothelioma is profound, and we see this utter heartbreak for families far too often. As with Carol and Bradley on the loss of their beloved husband and father, this is something they will never recover from - but we will do all we can to enable them to deal with their loss. We're really pleased to have been there for them."

John Browne, Head of Industrial Disease for Wales and the South West at Slater and Gordon, successfully pursued the claim against Vincent’s former employer.

“The loss of Vincent, and the shock of his diagnosis and rapid development of his illness, have been absolutely devastating for Carol and Bradley. What should have been many happy years ahead for them with their beloved husband and father have been so cruelly taken away,” says John.

“But despite their loss and grief, they have been determined to give back to Salisbury Hospice in whatever way they could. The dedication, kindness and compassion from the team there helped them enormously during their darkest days, and I know how gratefully felt this has been. We are so pleased to have been able to recover these costs on behalf of the Downton family and enable this donation in Vincent’s memory.”