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St. David's Hospice shows what it takes to make a difference


October 07, 2019 - 1973 views

Six doctors, 32 nurses, five therapist, over 350 volunteers and lots of cups of tea - this is just some of what it takes for St David’s Hospice to provide end of life care for people across North West Wales and their loved ones.

This is a fraction of what is needed for the Hospice to offer its vital care every year.

St David’s organise over 30 fundraising events and campaigns a year, runs 25 charity shops selling donated goods, and has over 10,000 people playing the St David’s Hospice Lottery. It needs to raise £4 million every year to ensure care is provided free to all.

St David’s Hospice is one of more than 200 charitable hospices across the UK taking part in Hospice Care Week starting from today (7-13 October), led by the national hospice and end of life care charity Hospice UK.

This year the theme ‘This is What It Takes’ will be highlighting that while hospice care is provided free for people with life-limiting conditions and their families it is not cheap and takes a lot of skills and people and resources.

Hospice care is about much more than medical care as hospices provide a wide range of services including: wellbeing therapies such as massage and reflexology, bereavement counselling, and hospice care at home.

It means that hospices depend on the contribution of many other people such as: cleaners, cooks, therapists, shop staff, gardeners, as well as countless dedicated volunteers.

The local adult hospice receives 12% funding from the NHS and Welsh Government, but they have to raise 88% of their income themselves and rely heavily on the generous support of their local communities, including from companies, donors and hospice fundraising supporters.

This year, many charitable hospices are facing considerable financial challenges, so the support they receive from the public is more important than ever before.

To find out more about St David’s Hospice during Hospice Care Week go to its Facebook page where they will be showing the public what it needs to provide its services, using the hashtag #ThisIsWhatItTakes

Tracey Bleakley, Chief Executive of national hospice and end of life care charity Hospice UK, said:

“Hospices provide incredible care and improve the lives of so many people with life-limiting conditions and their loved ones. During Hospice Care Week, we’d like to give a big shout out to everyone involved in making this happen and show just what it takes. 

“We want to give people a ‘behind the scenes’ glimpse of the sheer diversity of people and resources that goes into the compassionate care provided to people at the end of their lives and why hospices are truly at the heart of their communities.

“We hope that in Hospice Care Week people will be inspired to support their local hospice in different ways; whether by donating, volunteering or helping to spread the word about hospice care on social media.

“This year is proving to be really tough for the hospice sector on several fronts, whether related to fundraising or recruitment challenges, so it has never been more important for people to support their local hospice.”

Each year St David’s Hospice cares for more than 1000 people with terminal and life-limiting conditions and also provide bereavement support for their families.

In addition, hospice supporters will be encouraged to support St David’s and undertake activities to raise funds for hospice care.

For further information and to support St David’s Hospice in the national Hospice Care Week go to www.stdavidshospice.org.uk