St Luke’s Hospice Plymouth looks to the future

When St Luke’s Hospice Plymouth welcomed its first patients in 1982, it marked the start of a new era of more personalised and compassionate care, not only for local people living and dying with terminal illness but for countless others facing similar circumstances around the UK and overseas, thanks to the work done to share our expertise far and wide.

Teaching others what high-quality end of life care looks like remains integral to St Luke’s mission so that no-one with cancer, motor neurone disease or any other progressive, life-limiting condition needs to die alone, in pain or distress.

Steve Statham, Chief Executive of St Luke’s, said: “With people living longer, and with more complex conditions, pressure on our charity is growing year on year. That’s why it’s so important that we continue to share our knowledge and skills with others – such as staff in care homes – so that more people with terminal illness are looked after in the way that’s right for them in their last months, weeks and days of life.”

This collaborative approach is one of our hallmarks. In 2005, the forward-thinking hospice broke new ground by being the first in the UK to establish an integrated care service, joining forces with the then-Derriford Hospital and community services to provide patients with properly joined-up, high-calibre care at home, on hospital wards and at Turnchapel.

Today, we continue to provide care for the community in partnership with University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust, Livewell South West and Marie Curie.

Steve Statham said: “At the end of people’s lives, it matters more than ever that they are looked after as seamlessly as possible, and that is always what we strive for to help make such a difficult time for them and their families that bit easier.”

“We welcome working with Plymouth’s Integrated Care Partnership, which was launched last year so that people across the city and its surrounding areas benefit from more joined-up health and social care, helping them live well, age well and die well.”

Even working collaboratively though, as a charity we still face huge challenges in making our limited resources stretch further so we can reach more families in desperate need of medical expertise, sensitivity and kindness.

Steve Statham said: “Though much has changed since St Luke’s got started in 1982, what has not is our need for our supporters to keep on fundraising, volunteering and donating to help us continue.

“They know about the crucial difference our charity makes to families, either because of their own personal experience or because they have heard of the wonderful care we give, and we are hugely grateful for their phenomenal support over the past four decades.

“What we’re saying is, please don’t stop. We’re only going to need you more to help us weather the next 40 years. From joining in with our popular events such as Midnight Walk and Men’s Day Out to sponsoring our nurses and donating to our charity shops, there are many ways to get behind us. Please help us ensure our city continues being a kind place for people at the end of their lives.”