8 Apr 2026 Patient and Family Stories

Care, Compassion and Comfort: Dave’s Journey with The Kirkwood

Dave Lloyd, from Fixby, has spent much of his life living with a long-term health condition, but it is only in recent months that his situation has significantly changed — leading him to receive care on the In-Patient Unit at The Kirkwood.

Now aged 76, Dave has lived with kidney problems since his mid-20s, following a bout of glomerulonephritis as a teenager. Although he recovered at the time, it left lasting damage which, combined with diabetes later in life, developed into diabetic nephropathy, a form of kidney failure.

On his condition Dave said: “For most of my adult life, it was something that sat in the background. I was able to work and live normally until I retired at 58, but the kidney function was always gradually declining.”

Around seven to eight years ago, Dave was referred to specialists in Leeds, where he began preparing for dialysis. In July 2019, he started peritoneal dialysis at home, a treatment he managed independently for more than six years. He added: “It became part of my routine, something I was able to manage myself day in, day out.”

However, in recent months, Dave began to experience increasing pain in his shoulders, which made it difficult to carry out the physical aspects of dialysis: “It gradually got worse to the point where I simply couldn’t manage it anymore,” he said. “You have to lift the fluid bags and maintain very careful hygiene, and I just wasn’t able to do that safely.”

Despite being offered assisted dialysis at home, the option was not successful. Dave had already made the decision that he did not want to move onto haemodialysis and is not on a transplant list: “At that point, it became clear that I couldn’t continue with dialysis,” he said. “I understood what that meant for me going forward.”

Following a referral from his GP, Dave was admitted to The Kirkwood’s In-Patient Unit on the same day he was assessed by a hospice doctor: “Everything happened very quickly,” he said. “I was seen in the morning and admitted by the end of the day.”

For Dave, the move brought a sense of relief. He commented: “My wife is physically handicapped, and for years we’ve supported each other at home. However I knew that if one of us became too unwell, it would be too much for the other to cope. Coming here has taken that pressure away.”

Dave and his wife Anne, have been married since 1973 and will celebrate 53 years together this summer, have built their life in the North of England after his early career as a doctor took them across the country. Dave said: “We always felt the North was the best place to live. It’s friendlier, and you’re never far from the countryside. That’s something we’ve always valued.”

Although Dave had limited knowledge of The Kirkwood before his admission, he was aware of its strong reputation for end-of-life care, something he now fully appreciates.

“From my background as a doctor, I understand just how important hospices are. If you were to rate them on a scale of one to ten, I’d say they’re right up there at eight, nine or ten.”

He is also keenly aware of the role the local community plays in making that care possible, he added: “It makes me feel quite humble knowing that so much of this is funded by local people. My wife and I have already talked about making a donation so that others can benefit in the same way.”

Dave is open about his situation and speaks warmly about his experience on the In-Patient Unit and the care he has received: “The care here has been excellent, everyone, regardless of their role, has been unfailingly kind, helpful and understanding.”

One of the biggest surprises for Dave has been the atmosphere within the hospice: “I think there’s a perception that hospices might be quite gloomy places. However it’s actually the opposite. It’s a very friendly and welcoming environment, and that makes a huge difference.”

He added: “I didn’t feel nervous coming in, if anything, it was reassuring. The attitudes of everyone here are very positive.”

Reflecting on his time at The Kirkwood so far, Dave is clear about the impact the care has had on him: “I’m extremely grateful for the care and support I’ve received. It’s made a difficult situation much easier to face.”

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