Going above and beyond – Hospice Care Week 2025

21st July 2026

Making what seems impossible happen – even the smallest of things – can have a profound effect for those whose time is running short and their families.

At St Luke’s, we believe hospice care goes far beyond the physical care – it’s about living well until the very end. Every day, our teams go above and beyond to help patients make the most of the time they have, creating space for joy, connection, and unforgettable moments with loved ones. Whether it’s a final trip to a special place, arranging a wedding, or simply sharing stories over tea, we’re here to make memories happen.

This Hospice Care Week (6-12 October 2025) we are shining a light on the compassionate stories that make up St Luke’s and the staff and volunteers that make them happen.

Patient Mark Glover thought he had missed the chance to fulfil a lifetime’s desire to get up close to the prehistoric standing stones at Stonehenge, but St Luke’s Occupational Therapy team went out of their way to make sure he achieved his goal, with his wife Jane proudly at his side.

Jane explained: “Ever since he was a small child, my husband Mark has been fascinated by Stonehenge but, somehow, he never got round to visiting. Then suddenly, due to unforeseen and catastrophic life events, it seemed like it was too late.

“Lisa Hayman and Charlotte Muquit from St Luke’s occupational therapy and rehab team asked Mark what he would like to experience in his remaining days in the form of a bucket list. He said his wish was to not only visit Stonehenge but to actually be amongst the stones, though he thought he would have difficulty with understanding and mobility.

“Lisa and Charlotte made him think on a different level that he could achieve anything with help and understanding from others. St Luke’s arranged everything for us, pulling out all the stops to make this happen and the next thing we knew English Heritage had offered us two tickets and we found ourselves in front of the actual stones.”

Following the trip, Mark reflected on how Lisa and Charlotte had helped him with his own outlook on life. He said: “I am aware now that I had the mindset that because most of the actions I wanted to achieve to make life easier for Jane had been completed, maybe it was time to sit back and let nature take its course.

“St Luke’s helped me change this way of thinking. Basically Lisa and Charlotte gave me a kick up the backside which gave me new energy and a sense of purpose. Charlotte explained why she feels it’s important to go the extra mile to encourage patients to have not only a positive mindset but to use that positivity to achieve the things you want to.

“Rather than focusing on the negative I want to make positive use of my time to focus on goals that I would also like to achieve.”

Steve Wright wanted to take his wife, Bute, to the happy places he’d loved as a boy, but his terminal illness made him feel too weak and cautious to leave the house. Visiting Steve at home on a lovely bright day, Donna and Elaine from St Luke’s urgent care team noticed he was feeling a bit stronger and suggested they accompany him and Bute on the outing he longed for.

They booked a taxi, loaded a wheelchair and whisked the couple to Steve’s childhood “happy place” by the waterfront at Devonport and he felt “like I’d won the lottery”.

Steve said: “I wanted to go to Mutton Cove and Mount Wise to show my wife how happy I was as a kid. But I thought I’d never see the outdoors again. Knowing that St Luke’s would be with us, and we would be safe helped a lot.

“Being there made me feel like I was a little boy again. I could picture myself running around there when I was very young.”

Urgent Care Service healthcare assistant, Donna Watson said: “It was a real privilege to help make such precious memories for Steve and Bute. We sat on the table next to them and Steve put his arm around Bute, it was beautiful to see them so happy and in love.”

For Morello, a patient at our specialist unit, having a royal python called Jake draped around her neck was a lifelong dream come true. The chance for her to meet and handle the snake happened when former nurse Anna Corwood of Pets and Picasso animal assisted therapy and her menagerie were invited to the hospice for an afternoon to interact with patients, their family members and staff.

Morello said of the experience: “I think this place pulls out all the stops. Whatever you want, you can have. When they said there were animals coming in, I requested a snake! It made me feel so uplifted and happy and it was a lovely, lovely experience.”

Anna, a former community nurse who combines her love of animals and art to spread joy and encourage engagement in a variety of health and wellbeing settings, also brought along two guinea pigs and a tortoise to our specialist unit.

She said: “I’m really excited to bring the animals to St Luke’s. End of life care is a big passion of mine, along with pets and the arts.

“Engaging with the animals affects people in so many ways. It’s about making memories that can be cherished forever and that’s where what we do sits really nicely with St Luke’s.”

Worrying about what will happen to their faithful canine companion can weigh heavily on a patient’s mind in their final days and weeks, and our compassionate teams do their best to help them find the right solution. They’ve even been known to adopt a patient’s dog themselves, like clinical nurse specialist Teresa. Five years ago she gave a home to Archie, whose owner Heather had just weeks to live, and she and the team were on hand recently to help colleague Marianne find a new owner for little Roddy.

Delia from Launceston had always found comfort and joy in arts and crafts. For her, it wasn’t just about creating something beautiful – it was about the happiness it brought to others. So when she began working on a bird bath at home, it was more than just a project – it was a personal mission.

Sadly, Delia was admitted to our specialist unit before she could finish it. She felt it was “unfinished business,” and was desperate to complete it.

Healthcare Assistants Michelle and Fern heard her story and made it their mission to help. They brought the arts and crafts to Turnchapel, where Delia was able to continue her project – starting in our peaceful new garden and finishing it on the ward. She taught Michelle and Fern her skills, and together they produced some amazing creations using clay and gems.

It is not just our care teams who have been playing a part in helping our patients live well and make memories. IT Support Specialist Aden Webb has been instrumental in helping set up our VR headsets that were kindly donated to us by Classic Builders and Plymouth Round Table, giving patients the opportunity to have experiences not usually accessible to them. Aden has been training staff to use them and even going out with our community teams to help run the sessions for our patients at home.

From exploring the Great Barrier Reef to deep sea fishing, our patients have been able to explore places they have only been able to dream about, albeit virtually.

For Aden, most of his time is spent behind a screen in our IT Department, so being able to spend time with patients has been a welcome change for him.

“I don’t often get as much contact as I would like with the patients working in IT, so this has been a lovely opportunity to see the people our lovely nurses are going out and supporting and actually meet them in person.

“The patients seem to really enjoy it and it means they get to experience something again that they may not have otherwise had the opportunity to.”

These stories are just a glimpse into the extraordinary lengths our teams go to every single day to bring comfort, joy and dignity to those in our care. Hospice care is not just about managing symptoms – it’s about making life meaningful, even in its final chapter. Whether it’s fulfilling a lifelong dream, creating space for love and laughter, or simply being there with a listening ear, St Luke’s is committed to going above and beyond. This Hospice Care Week, we celebrate the heart and soul of our hospice – the people who make the impossible possible, and the moments that matter most.

Read our blog Hospice Care Week

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