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"It is a place where life is celebrated"

About: St Andrew's Hospice (Lanarkshire)

(as a relative),

When my Gran was diagnosed with late-stage pancreatic cancer, everything changed so quickly. In what felt like no time, she went from her diagnosis, to being in hospital, to being cared for at St Andrew’s Hospice, where she spent her final days. Before experiencing it myself, I thought a hospice would be a place of sadness, but instead, it was full of warmth, kindness, and compassion. The incredible team, including nurses, doctors, holistic therapists, café and shop staff, and even the entertainment team, made sure my gran was comfortable, cared for, and most importantly, surrounded by love.

One of the things I will always be grateful for is how the hospice made sure we had quality time together as a family. They allowed us to have special family meals and afternoon teas, where we could all sit together, share stories, and create beautiful memories with my gran. Those moments, filled with laughter and love, are now some of my most cherished memories. They gave us a sense of normality in the middle of such a difficult time, and for that, I will be forever thankful.

The nurses truly went above and beyond, not just for my gran but for all of us. She absolutely adored them, and they treated her with so much dignity, respect, and genuine care. St Andrew’s Hospice isn’t just a place where people spend their final days. It is a place where life is celebrated, where families are supported, and where every moment is made as special as possible. My gran’s time there was short, but the love and care she received will stay with us forever.

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Responses

Response from Margaret Wilkie, Deputy Chief Executive/Head of Clinical Services, St Andrew's Hospice 2 months ago
Margaret Wilkie
Deputy Chief Executive/Head of Clinical Services,
St Andrew's Hospice
Submitted on 28/03/2025 at 16:13
Published on Care Opinion at 16:13


picture of Margaret Wilkie

Dear Cerys1157,

Thank you very much for sharing your story. It is written so beautifully that I can feel the love and the memories that you have for your Gran coming through. I am so sorry about your Gran's death. I am sure that you miss her a lot and that it has been a difficult time for all of you. It means such a lot that in the midst of your grief that you have taken the time to write about your Gran's, yours and your family's experience of St Andrew's Hospice.

It sounds as if your Gran's illness has been difficult for all of you and I am glad that St Andrew's Hospice gave you all back a sense of normality. It is lovely to hear that all of our team ensured that your Gran's care and comfort was their top priority and that they went "above and beyond" to treat her with the dignity and respect that she deserved.

Life is indeed celebrated here at the Hospice and the support of the patient plus those that are important to the patient is very important to us. The fact that you built special memories while here and celebrated meals and family time together as well as,very importantly, laughed a lot means so much. People often have preconceptions and fears of a Hospice; however, your story is likely to really help others to understand the benefits of a Hospice and the difference that the care and support provided can make at the most difficult of times in peoples lives. Here at St Andrew's Hospice, we always aim to be warm, kind, compassionate whilst providing the highest standards of care. It is wonderful that you found this to be the case.

Your story helps us to shape our future direction. Listening to your experience helps us to know that we are as truly person centred as we are determined to be and that we are supporting families like yours well which is a key objective for us. We always want to do better so if you have any suggestions or you want to reach out for any reason please do so. We are still here for you and your family.

Thank you once again for your heartwarming story. Our staff will be delighted to hear about your feedback,

Warmest regards,

Margaret

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