"It really is one big family"

Volunteer Terry is "giving something back" after losing wife Pat

4 Mar 2025

Terry has only been volunteering for us for three months, however he has already made such an impact. This is his story.

St Andrew's Hospice joins national legacy campaign

14 Feb 2025

The “This is Hospice Care” campaign aims to raise awareness about the vital role hospices play in communities and to shift public perceptions of hospice care.

Patient gives back to the hospice that 'saved' her

21 Jan 2025

Anne and Richard have been volunteering with St Andrew's Hospice since she received care in 2017. Here is their story.

Local MP supports hospice funding fight

14 Jan 2025

Local MP Martin Vickers praised the “absolutely superb care” provided by St Andrew’s Hospice as he supported the sector's sustainable funding fight at a Parliament debate.

St Andrew's Hospice adopts Dying to Work charter

17 Dec 2024

The charter pledges our commitment and support to employees in the event of a terminal diagnosis.

"It really is one big family"

Paul Burgess lost partner Alison Barrs at St Andrew's Hospice in 2024, following a long battle with a brain tumour.

The couple were engaged for five years before pledging their commitment to each other in an intimate blessing ceremony, whilst Ali was a patient on our inpatient unit. Over the years, she also attended wellbeing groups and used the bathing service at the hospice.

After losing Ali, Paul said he decided to purchase a leaf on our Memory Tree as a way of supporting the hospice, whilst also giving him a focal point to reminisce about their time together.

"I had seen the tree when I had been coming in, and I'd talk to members of staff and realised it was something I wanted to do when Alison passed. It was somewhere I felt was a focal point that I could come to bring the dogs, have a coffee and contemplate. It was somewhere I knew was peaceful; a nice place I can come to and properly reminisce.

"It has the advantage of putting something back into the hospice, but it's also something I knew Alison would like. I even put the leaf up at 4ft 11, which was her height. It's just giving a little bit back and somewhere I can come and see Alison's name, have a chat with her and feel close to her."