Hospice celebrates 30 years and thanks the community who sustains it

This year marks 30 years since St. Michael’s Hospice started seeing patients on Aldermaston Road.

The Hospice has always been funded by the local community and St. Michael’s think the community should be celebrating the role it has played in maintaining this vital service. To remember the extraordinary ways in which the community has kept the hospice going, the Hospice is launching its anniversary with an appeal for stories. Do you have a story to share about care you or a loved one received? 

Stories like Sharon Fryer’s. My mum was in the Hospice 30 years ago, when you first opened, and were brand new. I can remember the smell of the new carpets. You were all so kind and nothing was ever too much trouble. Susan Pearce was 49 and spent almost a month in your care. She had ovarian cancer and we sadly lost her on 29th August 1992. All your staff were amazing and you couldn’t do enough for us as a family. I was 22 when my dear Mum passed in the Hospice but I know how safe mum felt in your care, Sharon told the Hospice.

“We hope to connect the community to the extraordinary difference it has made to the lives of its neighbours and telling stories is the perfect was to do that. We are sure that everyone is connected some way, they may know someone who has had our care, may have worn a crazy hairstyle for Mad Hair Day or brought in donations to a store,” said Sue O’Flinn, Communications Manager at the Hospice.

“We are really excited to be celebrating this anniversary. It gives us an opportunity to look back and reflect on how far we have come but also to get share with the community where St. Michael’s is heading as we expand our services.

“This year we plan to make our Hospice at Home service 24/7, further reducing strain on hospital services and allowing people to stay at home where they are most comfortable. We plan to expand our Day Services to support patients and their families earlier in their diagnosis, helping them with their symptoms but also allowing them to grow support networks with other patients” said Iain Cameron, Chief Executive.

If you have a tale to tell, get in touch at stmichaelshospice.org.uk/30th-anniversary/ or by email at sue.oflinn@stmichaelshospice.org.uk.