Tag Archive for: end of life

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BLOG: Lewis flies the flag for finance and St Luke’s apprenticeships

National Apprenticeship Week 2024

When accounts assistant Lewis Kendall posed for a photo in his gown and mortarboard outside Exeter Cathedral recently, it wasn’t only his long-awaited college graduation he was celebrating.  

The occasion also marked the official end of his time as a St Luke’s apprentice and acknowledged his role as a fully-fledged, permanent member of our Finance Team. 

This week is National Apprenticeships Week (5-11 February), a chance to shine a light on the positive impact that apprenticeships make to individuals, businesses and the wider economy.

Lewis, from Plympton, is now a proud ambassador for St Luke’s apprenticeships, speaking up about how they allow you to learn on the job as well as support you to study for relevant qualifications.  

It proved to be the perfect option for the 27-year-old who was thrilled to find an alternative route into his chosen field of finance and accountancy.  

He explained: “I didn’t really know what to do after A levels. I got three Bs in Maths, History and Business and went to university at Swansea for a while. I liked the course and the subject, but I didn’t get along with the university style of teaching, so I decided to come home and work for a bit.  

“If someone had told me at the time that there was a really good apprenticeship scheme, rather than going to university, then I would have jumped at that.” 

Lewis struck lucky when he spotted an advertisement in May 2019 for a finance apprentice at St Luke’s. 

“I had a really good interview and was taken on by St Luke’s as part of the finance team, with a day of study leave each week to work towards professional qualifications with the Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) through Exeter College. 

“I would definitely recommend apprenticeships. I liked the way I could be taught on day release because you are not just studying, you have work responsibilities too. You pick up practical skills in the workplace – stuff that you would not learn in the classroom. I also felt really supported, not like Uni where you can feel like you are on your own. 

“And because St Luke’s were so generous in paying for my course, I felt a good pressure to do well.” 

Lewis did do really well in his Level 2 and 3 AAT studies, despite having to study mostly online because of Covid restrictions, so St Luke’s gave him the opportunity to carry on to Level 4 – the top AAT qualification. 

“This time I had to travel up to Exeter every Wednesday and St Luke’s were kind enough to cover the cost of my fuel, and in January this year I heard that I’d passed Level 4.” 

The icing on the cake was the chance to receive his certificates at a graduation ceremony at Exeter Cathedral last month, watched by his mum and dad and his girlfriend, Eloise. 

“It was a great day celebrating achieving my qualifications. My mum and dad were really proud, especially because I had previously withdrawn from university.” 

Numbers might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but Lewis loves them and he’s proud to be part of a background team that is absolutely essential to the smooth running of the organisation. 

“We are quite an unseen specialist team that makes sure the hospice is financially stable,” he explained. “I think the best thing is knowing that the hard work that we put in helps support the services that all the people at front of house provide – our care teams, our fundraising team, our shops.” 

Before qualifying Lewis’s role was mostly dealing with day to day income and financial queries around donations, working closely with fundraising and supporter care. 

“My team is great. St Luke’s recognised my qualification and experience and had a reshuffle so I could have a place in the finance management side of the organisation.” 

As a fully qualified Accounts Assistant he spends more time now working with Management Accountant Nicola Willcocks. 

“The work I do now is really satisfying in that we are dealing with lots of income and expenditure, putting together all the backroom financial information, helping the management accounts team make decisions about, and analyse, budgets. 

“But I don’t just sit at a desk and play with numbers. I like talking people through the numbers if they need any help with that. Giving them all the information they need enables them to make decisions. I gather the data that helps inform those decisions.” 

Underpinning everything Lewis does at St Luke’s is a sense of pride in the organisation. 

“St Luke’s provides such a unique and great service. I live in Plympton, and it feels good to see our cars going out to see patients, knowing that our team helps to make that happen. It’s wonderful that people in the community look so fondly on St Luke’s and get so excited about fundraising for us.”  

When he can, Lewis likes to help out at some of St Luke’s flagship fundraising events.  

“Volunteering at Midnight Walk is probably one of my favourite things to do. It’s great to see so many people who are working a full day and then are prepared to walk miles around Plymouth until two in the morning to raise money for St Luke’s. I do the donations side, making sure the money collected gets safely back to Turnchapel. And I am there afterwards giving out tea, coffee, prosecco and chocolates. 

“It’s great being sat at a computer with the numbers but actually seeing people out like that is wonderful. It fills you with pride.” 

Outside work, Lewis lives at Chaddlewood with Eloise, and in his spare time he’s a keen golfer and one of the current captains of Thurlestone Golf Club. 

“I absolutely love it. St Luke’s was the club’s charity of the year last year, which was wonderful – they raised a lot of money for the organisation.” 

As a hospice, St Luke’s can offer a number of different apprenticeships like Lewis’ to both internal and external candidates. Apprenticeships can range from administration to events management, retail logistics to health and social care, roles in finance to leadership and management. We pride ourselves on ensuring that all our apprentices are part of the St Luke’s family benefiting from our values and support.

If like Lewis, you would be interested in an apprenticeship at St Luke’s you can find out more here.

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BLOG: Pilot service takes expert St Luke’s hospice care to Cornish doorsteps


St Luke’s Hospice Plymouth’s end of life Urgent Care Team ventured across the Tamar last week to visit their first patient at home in East Cornwall as part of a pilot service running until the end of March 2024.

We followed senior health care assistant Bee Daniels and nurse Jo Davis as they went to meet a very grateful Paul Treeby and his daughter, Jude Kitt.

It’s less than half a kilometre from one side to the other but crossing the Tamar Bridge represented a significant milestone for St Luke’s pilot East Cornwall Urgent Care Service.

Until last week it had been a bridge too far for the hospice’s “at home” teams who already clock up more than 80,000 miles a year taking our specialist care to the doorsteps of patients in Plymouth and surrounding areas of West and South Devon.

In a ground-breaking move, a four-month trial service has been launched to visit end of life patients and their families at home in a largely rural stretch from Saltash to Torpoint and the Rame Peninsula, up the Tamar Valley towards Callington and Launceston and across to Liskeard.

Patients in this area have benefited from St Luke’s care at Derriford Hospital and in the charity’s specialist unit at Turnchapel, but there has previously been no service available to support them either to remain at home or to care for them on discharge from hospital.

Senior healthcare assistant Bee and nurse Jo were thrilled and proud to be pioneers on a mission to make a positive difference to people’s lives, working closely with NHS healthcare colleagues across the water.


“The whole team are really excited to go there,” said Bee, in the driving seat as they passed the Welcome to Cornwall sign in the centre of the bridge. “It’s another big area for us to cover and it’s going to be a lot more rural nursing, but we’re all up for the challenge.”

That stalwart can-do attitude certainly came in handy as they turned off the A38 to snake through the Cornish countryside to meet Paul Treeby, the team’s first patient on the service’s first day.

Beneath bleak black clouds and intermittent heavy downpours, Bee drove carefully, bumping along increasingly muddy lanes until she hit Tarmac with grass growing down the middle, her view hemmed in by high hedges on either side.

Suddenly a beautiful rainbow and a glimmer of blue sky appeared in the distance beckoning Bee and Jo to one of the small farming communities that pepper the hinterlands between Liskeard and Callington.

“It’s a typical journey, really,” said Jo. “We’re based in the city, but we have a lot of isolated people to visit out in the countryside. We keep going come rain or shine, grass or gravel!”

St Luke’s Urgent Care is a healthcare assistant led service, so Jo wouldn’t normally be out visiting patients herself, except when there’s an urgent need for her nursing expertise.

“I put myself down for the first shift so that I can see what the challenges are and support the team while they are getting used to the area,” she explained.

With the satnav out of range, they managed to arrive in roughly the right place, but Paul’s tucked-away home wasn’t easy to find in the pouring rain, despite his instructions. Luckily, he lives in a friendly hamlet where everyone knows everyone, and hardy folk who walk their dogs in all weathers were eager to point Bee in the right direction.

There was an almost palpable sense of relief as Paul’s daughter, Jude Kitt, opened the door of her father’s bungalow and, along with black Labrador Harvey, welcomed Bee and Jo inside.

Any apprehension Paul had felt before their arrival vanished immediately as they asked him gently about himself, how he was feeling and what they could do to help.

“We build a rapport with patients very, very quickly,” explained Jo. “Going in on a daily basis you can quickly see how someone is and if there is escalation of symptoms you can deal with that. The patient can get what they need from us in a timely manner. We make sure everything is as easy as possible.”

Their role is also to liaise with the other health professionals involved in his care, including his GP and the NHS Cornwall palliative care nurse who gives Paul and Jude advice over the phone.

Paul, 75, has been living with prostate cancer for 10 years. After an operation, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, he was put on long-term chemotherapy to control the disease. But, in July this year – just a month after his dear wife Elizabeth’s death from leukaemia – Paul’s oncology team told him that the treatment had run its course and there was nothing more they could do.

It means the world to him to now be able to spend his remaining time at home in the community he knows and loves, with reassuring support from St Luke’s.

“I’ve been a country lad all my life. I was brought up on the farm. I was born at Blunts, down the road. Dad was killed in a tractor accident and Mother had three of us to look after so she took a job as a housekeeper for another farm at Menheniot. That was tough, but you just got on with it. When I was old enough, I went out to work and started digger driving, which I loved,” he said.

Paul and Elizabeth brought up their family on a smallholding near Trewidland – a tiny hamlet between Liskeard and Looe – and he made a living operating diggers for several local companies.

“We had around 40 acres and kept sheep through the winter and cut hay in summer. When we couldn’t cope with that any more, my son Tim took it on and bought us this bungalow to retire to.”

Paul was quick to praise Bee and Jo at the end of their visit.

“I was very impressed with St Luke’s team. It’s good to have them coming in to help me with any problems I’ve got. I think it will be a big benefit having them down here in Cornwall,” he said. “I think it’s something that’s got to be done. There’s a massive demand.

“They came in and made me feel at home. They talked about my tablets, and they took me in to have a wash. It was all very relaxed and no stress. That suits me down to the ground because I don’t do well with stress. That’s why I wouldn’t want to go back to hospital again.”

Jude, who lives four miles away at Pensilva, has been juggling her own family life with caring for her dad, with no real chance to grieve for her mother, who was the first person she would usually have talked things through with.

“It feels like a huge relief already. Dad deserves the best care and now we have got somebody coming every day who can help us. I feel like I have a team behind me now,” she said.

“The main thing is the continuation of people coming in so they will get to know Dad and recognise any day to day deterioration. I feel like it’s all been on me, and it’s been a bit overwhelming at times.”

Jo added: “There must be a lot of families who have been struggling up until now and it’s good to be able to tell them there is help on the way.”

The final word goes to Bee, who said: “Dying is a massive part of life. Everyone deserves to have the best death they can have, and we can help with that journey.”

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BLOG: Nurse from Royal Navy flagship visits frontline of St Luke’s care

Royal Navy nurse Lieutenant Laura Bisset recently took time out from her role on board Britain’s largest and most powerful warship to learn about palliative care alongside St Luke’s Hospice Plymouth specialist nursing teams.

After a solid three months at sea deployed on HMS Queen Elizabeth as part of NATO operations in Norway and Scotland, the 35-year-old Queen Alexandra’s Royal Navy Nurse wanted to use some of her annual leave to do something worthwhile and completely different that would stretch her knowledge and experience.

She certainly ticked those boxes during her time with St Luke’s, witnessing the impact of our care at our inpatient unit at Turnchapel, on the road with our urgent care service, and on the wards with our experts at University Hospitals Plymouth.

Laura first heard about St Luke’s a couple of years ago when her friend’s mother, who had Motor Neurone Disease, was cared for as an inpatient.

“The care they gave her mum was just wonderful, and that’s something that families never forget. And the support they gave my friend was incredible too.”

When Laura got in touch with St Luke’s recently, Director of Clinical Services Tricia Davies invited her to spend some time watching our teams in action, giving her first-hand experience of how the hospice puts patients and their loved ones at the centre of everything they do.

“There is a lot of fear around dying and palliative care if you are not used to it, and it’s quite daunting doing something like this when all you have known is the Navy,” admitted Laura.

“But it has been really worthwhile and meaningful and such a lovely welcoming atmosphere. Everyone seems to really enjoy their jobs, even if it can be difficult. I don’t think I was fully expecting how much I would enjoy the experience.”

Laura, who was brought up in South Wales and Devon and has a house in Saltash, joined the Royal Navy 12 years ago as a rating and carried out her military training at HMS Raleigh at Torpoint.

Because she was already a qualified nurse, she was able to go straight onto the wards at Derriford where Royal Navy personnel work as part of the hospital team between deployments to keep up their skills.

Her experience on deployment includes time in Sierra Leone during the Ebola crisis, with the Royal Marines in Norway and at their training centre at Lympstone, and at Hedley Court in Surrey, a rehabilitation centre for injured servicemen.

Wanting more naval experience outside hospital settings, Laura was commissioned as an officer and took up her post in primary care as Senior Nursing Officer on board HMS Queen Elizabeth about a year ago – a huge contrast to end of life care.

“It has been an incredible role where I routinely work within a GP surgery with a population at risk of 500 service personnel but when we deploy that can double to about 1,400 sailors on board.

“I can be doing anything from chronic disease reviews to responding to emergency situations. Following an amazing initiative ‘Flagship Performance’ a large part of my role revolves around health promotion. It was set up by one of the doctors on board, Surgeon Lieutenant Commander Roocroft who aims to empower the sailors to leave the ship in better physical and mental health.”

Laura found a big contrast between that busy military setting – and its generally young, fit and healthy men and women – and the calming environment of St Luke’s inpatient unit.

“I realised I didn’t actually know much about hospices, and it was a real insight to learn that people don’t necessarily die there but can come in for symptom control and in some cases can return home.

“It was wonderful to see how the nurses and health care assistants have time to sit with the patients and listen to them, explain things and find ways around it if they have problem with their medication, for example. I liked how calm it was and that no one was rushing around.

“You are really trying to optimise their quality of life and look after their symptoms, with things like good nutrition, heat packs and complimentary therapies. I liked how the patients had lovely home cooked food, views out the window and the opportunity to go out into the garden.”

Laura, who worked in community care before training as a nurse, felt privileged to also visit patients in their own homes with St Luke’s Urgent Care Team.

“It was quite moving for me, being able to go and see people in their homes, where they spend so much of their lives and where they wanted to be with their families and pets. It seemed to be quite a good place to die.

“It was lovely seeing how everything the nurses and healthcare assistants were doing was so helpful and gentle.”

Finally, Laura joined our hospital team in the more familiar setting of Derriford Hospital. She saw how St Luke’s doctors and nurses work closely with NHS teams with the aim of discharging patients at the end of life, whenever possible, but always striving to make sure each individual achieves their preferred place of care, whether that is in hospital, at home or at our specialist unit.

Laura said: “I don’t know whether hospital is the right place for people who are dying. I know it’s not always possible, but observing the way St Luke’s look after people in the hospice and in their own homes showed me the importance of such worthwhile work at a time when patients and their families need it the most.

“The care and compassion shown by all St Luke’s teams has made me realise the incredible work they do and the requirement for such an important charity within our society,” added Laura. “I can’t thank Tricia enough for organising my time with St Luke’s.”

Learn more about our care

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PR: Men’s Day Out 2024: Big-hearted march backs care that goes the extra mile

 

Big-hearted march backs care that goes the extra mile

A mass of big-hearted men will be marching through Plymouth on Saturday 6 April next year to support the compassionate end of life care St Luke’s Hospice Plymouth provides for local families at the toughest times in their lives.

Registration opens on 1 December for the hugely popular Men’s Day Out, an unmissable mix of miles, mates, memories and merrymaking that not only raises funds and awareness, but also opens the door to conversations about grief and bereavement.

This flagship annual event is one of the most popular and memorable happenings on the city’s calendar, with around 2,000 entrants signing up each year to march a 12km circular route, finishing with a pasty, a beverage, and a seat at the rugby.

Walkers and their generous sponsors bring in thousands of pounds each year to help fund St Luke’s invaluable hospice services for patients at home, in hospital and at the charity’s specialist unit at Turnchapel, 365 days a year.

Striding the streets together offers a unique camaraderie for those who have lost loved ones or are facing up to a terminal diagnosis in the family, while doing something positive and uplifting to support people in the local community.

Many take part to remember a friend or family member who was cared for by St Luke’s, and writing their loved one’s name on their official Men’s Day Out T-shirts helps to spur them on as they join the huge throng of men on the move.

Starting and finishing at Plymouth Albion RFC at Devonport, the event will kick off at 10am and follow a marked route through the city centre and along the waterfront, taking in Plymouth Hoe and the Barbican. Back at the rugby ground, walkers can enjoy a well-earned pasty and a beverage before witnessing our local boys in a clash with the Rams from Reading.

St Luke’s Head of Fundraising Penny Hannah said: “We’re thrilled to announce that Men’s Day Out will be striding ahead again in 2024, and so grateful for the loyal support of our sponsors JEM Scaffolding, and to so many of you who come back year after year to join in the fun, open your hearts and raise funds for St Luke’s.”

Registration for Men’s Day Out costs just £35, but that only covers the official T-shirt, refreshments, rugby ticket and event costs. It’s individual sponsorships and donations that really make a difference, and many entrants set themselves a fundraising target to tot up their total as they mark the miles.

Places are limited so it’s advised to register early for this well-loved event to avoid disappointment and to start rallying sponsors. Click here to find out more. 

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BLOG: Memories are made of this – magic moments with Matt and Kelley


Creating happy memories has always been a special part of Matt and Kelley Avery’s life together. A formidable, fun-loving team, they’ve certainly collected a bumper package of magic moments over the past 17 years, despite weathering some very tough times.

The couple have shared numerous incredible holidays in the UK and around the world, on their own, with friends, and with their children. They’ve danced the night away at family and friends’ weddings and been the life and soul of countless dinner parties and new year celebrations, as well as murder mystery and hot tub evenings they’ve hosted at home.

And who could forget the romantic hot air balloon adventure that former Miss Plymouth Kelley booked as a surprise that confirmed she and Matt were made for each other?

But they certainly didn’t expect to be adding to their positive standout memories when Matt was admitted to St Luke’s specialist unit a few weeks ago, weak and in terrible pain.

Nevertheless, there were a few big surprises in store for the carpenter, funky house DJ and Rat Pack fan and his wife – not least him feeling well enough to go home to Sherford, where he’s now spending precious time with Kelley, their daughters Madison, 15, and Lacey,11, son Harrison, six, and spaniel Chester, nearly 13.

On top of expert care, the whole family – including the dog – felt welcomed, supported and thoroughly spoilt by St Luke’s friendly and understanding teams who all went above and beyond to create a positive experience.

There was an impromptu birthday party for Matt, Halloween fun with pumpkins, quiet times with his parents in the hospice gardens, arts and crafts sessions for the children and a unique Plymouth Argyle treat that put the icing on the cake.

“Four weeks ago, I was up in bed in complete pain thinking that was it. I went into St Luke’s at Turnchapel with worries because you think ‘Am I going to be able to come out?’ Some people don’t. But there are people who do, and I am one of them,” said Matt. “I had such a good experience in there, the way they looked after me and reassured me all the time.”

Matt was first diagnosed with a rare form of cancer – GIST or gastro intestinal stromal tumours – when he was 31, back in 2009. The news came just five weeks before he and Kelley were due to get married. Matt had started chemotherapy treatment, but the wedding went ahead as planned at Plymouth’s Continental Hotel, with 140 guests – and more in the evening, when a Rat Pack singer sang some of Matt’s favourite songs. “The best wedding present was being told that he was responding to treatment,” said Kelley.

After a successful operation on his bowel and liver at Derriford Hospital, Matt has continued on slow release chemo treatment ever since, enjoying months and years of feeling fit and well, interspersed with sporadic bouts of ill health.

Cancer was part of his and Kelley’s everyday reality, but they didn’t let it stop them living life to the full or affect their dreams of adding to their family. Lacey was born in 2012, Matt trained hard and ran the Plymouth Half Marathon in 2015 in just two hours, and in 2017 the couple welcomed Harrison into the world.

Kelley, a former Miss Plymouth, who worked for an estate agency, said: “I thought the best thing to do was to keep to a routine with the children, with work and with life in general. Of course, the focus is going to be on the person who is poorly, but you have to be the glue holding things together.

“The week leading up to each check-up appointment would be filled with stress and tears, then that would be it for another three months. It was time to put worries to the back of our minds and we lived like that for years. It was hard going, but we had some great times.”

As a family they enjoyed lots of caravan holidays in Cornwall, heading for Polzeath, where Matt could indulge in his love of surfing and the children became confident “water babies”. Another favourite has been Center Parcs, where they relished adventures on two wheels.

Matt added: “We are quite positive people and that is what has got us through. We gradually got into a routine. I looked fit and healthy and normal and generally life was manageable.”
But despite additional expert input from Cambridge GIST specialist Dr Ramesh Bulusu, eventually the cancer spread to Matt’s bones, and he started radiotherapy treatment.

In January this year the doctors told Matt there was no more they could do to treat him and in October his health took a turn for the worse. He was unable to eat and was losing weight fast. He and Kelley had been referred to St Luke’s and they called clinical nurse specialist Debbie Hutchinson for advice.

“We got the doctor out and Debbie came too. For pain management’s sake they said let’s get you into Turnchapel,” recalled Matt. “I was not ready in my mind for that. I don’t know how it’s going to be down the road, but my feelings then were, ‘I’m not ready for this but I need it’.

“They made me feel so welcome. The care they give you is so different. I got to know all the nurses and staff and you are on first name terms with everybody, including the doctors. They are so friendly and so polite.

“They started off trying to control my pain and my nausea. I hadn’t really eaten for weeks. When I was on chemo it was a form of treatment that made me put weight on – and I liked a pasty too. But I’d gone down from 15 stone in January to 11 stone.

“When you are medicated up, days just go by and you don’t even know if you’ve been fed or not. Then, when you are feeling like you can get up and do stuff, they are still there and you realise what they have done for you.”

A week after he was admitted, it was Matt’s 46th birthday and the St Luke’s team pulled out all the stops to help make it a memorable day for him, Kelley, the children and their close family.

Matt said: “We’d had a meal out booked for the Saturday with family and friends, but we couldn’t do that. The staff rallied round and got pizza and balloons and we had a family gathering. It was just a lovely thing for them to do.” They also surprised him with a cake and a rousing chorus of Happy Birthday.

“It was very important for the occasion to be marked, especially for the children. That personal touch was just lovely,” added Kelley, who has nothing but praise for the support they received from the whole inpatient team and individuals like Debbie, and support worker Lisa who is part of the team on the Patches programme that helps patients’ children and grandchildren.

“St Luke’s have been amazing for me, Matt and the children. Patches has been great. They have provided arts and crafts and fun stuff the children can do.”

At Halloween, Kelley, Madison, Lacey and Harrison brought in Chester the dog, along with some pumpkins, and spent time together carving them into ghoulish faces in the unit’s family kitchen. “Matt was given a really, really small pumpkin to carve. Then we came out into the garden and it was all lit up. We were able to put the pumpkins out all in a row. To share that moment together was very, very important. It was an opportunity to make memories that we might not have had,” said Kelley.

Perhaps the most spectacular memories the family made together was when football fan Debbie told Matt she had two tickets for him for Argyle’s match against Middlesborough on 4 November.
“I’ve always been an Argyle fan. I’m from Plymouth so it’s going to be my number one team. I couldn’t thank her enough… and then it escalated,” recalled Matt.

Argyle player Finn Azaz, one of St Luke’s regular volunteers, went to meet Matt in his room at the hospice with volunteer Elliott Darcy, who coordinates Argyle visits for St Luke’s patients and their families. A 20-minute visit turned into an hour and a half.

“I could have been sitting in the pub with them having a chat. We got on really well,” said Matt. “Then Finn asked what is your son called and does he like football?”

The next thing Matt heard was that Finn had put Harrison forward as a mascot for the match. On the day, Matt was there in the crowd with Kelley’s dad when Finn brought the six-year-old onto the pitch in front of a huge, cheering Green Army. And that wasn’t all. Harrison was given a new Argyle kit and his sisters also got to watch the game and meet all the players.

“It was a brilliant day and we cannot thank Finn and Argyle and St Luke’s enough for all of it. It’s made the best memories,” said Matt, who is grateful to be back on his feet.

“You get that stigma about going into St Luke’s. Four weeks ago, I was up in bed in complete pain thinking that was it. They’ve sent me home with the right medication and they’ve explained everything. And we have great after care. I didn’t even know hospice care at home existed. Debbie might as well move in!”

Kelley added: “We’d felt like we were in such a hole in a way. Matt’s quality of life was quite small. When things came to the point when he was in so much pain, we thought St Luke’s would be end of life care. But there was light at the end of the tunnel and we actually got Matt back.”

She has this advice for anyone who find themself in a similar situation: “It’s important to make sure you have a good connection with someone like St Luke’s, or the Mustard Tree at Derriford.
“When they say give us a call if you need anything, do call them. Everybody needs support. You can never get through this on your own.”

The couple are also incredibly grateful to all their family – especially Matt’s mum and dad, his brother Scott, and Kelley’s parents – for being there to support them in so many ways.

Last, but not least, Matt has some special words for his children: “We are very, very proud of them. I’d like to tell them to keep being yourselves and working hard! They each have their own personalities and they are all very caring. We are so lucky.”

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BLOG: Dave lives his best life at punk party send-off

Punk drummer Dave Whatmore was thrilled to be right at the heart of the action when his friends staged a unique farewell gig in his honour.

It’s not often someone gets to attend their own send-off, but the best, and only, seat in the house was reserved for Dave at the punk all-dayer held on last Saturday (14 October) at The Junction pub in Plymouth.

Featuring some of his favourite local bands, and some from farther away, it wasn’t only an epic party that everyone who came will never forget, it also raised more than £2,000 to split between his chosen charities – St Luke’s Hospice Plymouth and Macmillan.

“There’s no point having a party while you’re lying in a coffin, you’ve got to do it before you go,” said Dave, 58, a familiar face on the Plymouth music scene, who has a terminal cancer diagnosis and is being supported at home by St Luke’s.

“We held a ‘sorry to see you go’ charity gig at the Junction on Mutley Plain, a going away party type of thing. It was a nice little tribute and nice to be there and see it, rather than them doing it while I’m dead. A lot of people don’t get that chance.

“I couldn’t have wanted anything better than that. It was great fun and very nice of them to do it. There were so many people there. I sat in my seat with a circle of protectors around me. I knew pretty much everybody there. A lot of people I hadn’t seen for 30 or 40 years. It was so nice to see everyone and for them to actually be able to come and speak to me.”

At the end of April, after an episode of acute chest pain, Dave was told that he had inoperable cancer and that he might not make it to Christmas. He took a little time to digest his prognosis before his punk rebel spirit started to kick in.

“They told me I’m probably not going to see Christmas. My reaction was to buy a ticket for next February to see a band at The Junction,” said Dave, speaking at home in St Judes, surrounded by his faithful dog Poppy, his partner Alice, her two dogs Pinky and Troy, and their little cat.

He acknowledged that it was the support of St Luke’s clinical nurse specialist Debbie Hutchinson that has encouraged and enabled him to keep living in the moment and make the most out of the time he has left, to the best of his ability.

Like many people, Dave had a limited idea of what hospice care means or what to expect from St Luke’s before having a personal connection.

“I didn’t really understand what St Luke’s did and the help and love they give until I met Debbie. I thought hospice care was going in somewhere, being in a bed, shut away and you’re going to die. It isn’t anything like that.

“I get visits at home, and I get what I need to be able to do things for myself. Debbie and St Luke’s are just a phone call away if I need anything, which I have occasionally, and it’s been sorted straight away. They sorted out my medication when I would have been two days without it. Thanks to Debbie I wasn’t. I love that lady, she’s great – like a second mum. It’s a joy that there are people like Debbie and her friends who are willing to look after people and in a worse state than me.

“OK, I’m going to die at some point, but that is going to happen to us all at some time, it’s just going to be a little sooner for me than I anticipated. I’m not going to be down and angry about it. I want to enjoy what time I’ve got left and enjoy my friends because, apparently, they enjoy me.”

Immunotherapy treatment has helped Dave to feel stronger in the short term, harnessing the energy and drive to make special memories.

“I know I’m going to deteriorate; it is going to get worse and worse, but until that point, until I can’t do anything for myself, I’ll keep doing as much as I can,” added Dave, whose favourite bands of all time are Stiff Little Fingers and The Stranglers. He’s been getting out to as many gigs as he can. Just a couple of weeks ago he was able to travel to Torquay to witness PiL, another long-time favourite, in action. He also has his eye on one last outing for his own precious drum kit.

Dave’s connection with the Plymouth music scene goes back four decades. He has played drums with several popular local bands, including Mad Dog McRea in the early 1990s, Bateman and Unusual Stars. Punk is in his blood, and he has been building up a great collection of live videos from gigs he’s attended, sharing them on his YouTube channel (UPK Dave) – including his own farewell party.

Friends initially wanted to take Dave to this year’s Rebellion punk festival in Blackpool. Realising he wasn’t well enough to go they pulled out all the stops to bring the party to him and let him know how much he means to them.

Called A Gig for Spotty – Dave’s nickname inspired by the green-spotted Mohican-haired sidekick of 1980s kids’ TV hero SuperTed – it featured six bands and was organised by his mates Tom Proctor and Kevin and Alison House, with Mickey Byrne and Sweary Mark on guest DJ duties.

“It is really, really lovely. They put it all together in a couple of months. They rang up the bands and they said yes. Cult Maniax from Torrington split up 20 years ago but got back together for this gig, with two original members. We were all together back in the 1980s,” explained Dave, who used to sport his own impressive red Mohican back in the day. “One band came all the way from Blackpool and there was another band from Bristol and the others from Plymouth.”

The full 2-11pm line-up featured Bus Station Loonies, Hellwigs, Wags to Wytches, The Hate, Bad Blood and Cult Maniax.

Co-organiser Kevin House wrote on Facebook: “No words to say how proud we are of absolutely everybody connected with this and I don’t just mean the people that organised, helped, bands, the venue, I mean all of you that came and supported… The party for Dave Whatmore that was the whole reason for this, I hope we did you proud Spotty…”

The last word goes to Dave: “We did this thing, we made some money, and I chose who I wanted it to go to. I’ll be happy if it helps at least one person.”

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BLOG: Queen’s nurse award confirms Jen’s passion to inspire


Community nurse Jen Nicholls has scored a ground-breaking double win for excellence at St Luke’s Hospice Plymouth, becoming the organisation’s first Queen’s Nurse and first Advanced Clinical Practitioner.

Jen, who works across the inpatient and leads the community team, recently graduated with a Masters’ degree in Advanced Clinical Practice from Plymouth University. In December she will travel to a ceremony in London to be awarded her prestigious Queen’s Nurse badge.

“I’m very proud to hold both these titles. I couldn’t have achieved this without my teams, who are fantastic,” said Jen, 45, who has spent almost all her spare time studying over the past four years.

“I’m passionate about palliative care, and this is great for St Luke’s reputation and for our focus on outstanding end of life care in our community.”

Jen is now one of just 38 nurses working across community services in Devon – and only 2,500 nationwide – who currently hold Queen’s Nurse status. It’s a discretionary award that requires evidence of experience, skill and commitment as part of a rigorous selection process.

“Becoming a Queen’s Nurse gives me the opportunity to be part of a network of like-minded professionals who are influencing improvements in nursing care in the community. It will also mean I can raise the profile of specialist palliative care among community nurses and share learning,” she said.

Jen’s qualification as an advanced clinical practitioner empowers her to confidently guide patients throughout their whole journey within palliative and end of life care, on a practical and strategic level. She can use her advanced knowledge to assess patients’ symptoms, diagnose and treat, prescribe medication, evaluate their care and prevent unplanned admissions to hospital. She can also support partnerships with GPs and management of the most complex of patients.

“If there is someone who needs to go into our specialist unit after being cared for by us at home in the community, then I can make sure it’s a smooth transition, for example.

“Having ACPs is very forward thinking and new in how it is being incorporated into the medical model. For St Luke’s it’s a real move forward in terms of integrating roles. It benefits us through aspects of its four pillars of clinical practice, leadership, education and research.

“Taking my Masters has been a challenge and there have been times when I thought I couldn’t do it, but my most important driver is to keep the patient at the heart of everything we do, and really make a difference to their care.

“I have a close family and they supported me through my studies, but I have to say they are pleased I’m not studying at the moment!” said Jen, who has now set her sights on learning to cox for her gig rowing club at Charlestown.

Always ambitious, she has certainly come a long way since her first job aged 17, working as a health care assistant in her local cottage hospital in Bodmin. At 18 Jen moved to Bristol to do her nurse training, working in haematology and oncology, and by 26 she had become a ward manager.

Moving back to her Cornish hometown, Jen was ward manager at Bodmin community hospital for eight years before joining St Luke’s Hospital Team in 2016 and finding her true passion.

“I came over to work in the community team for six months and really enjoyed it. In 2019 I became the lead for the community team and a year later I became a nurse consultant and absolutely loved it. It has to be my best job ever. It’s so rewarding, and I feel so privileged to be part of patients’ and their families’ lives at such an important time,” she said.

“I’m really proud to be representing all the patients that I have cared for in my career. They have made me the nurse I am today. I am very enthusiastic to keep developing and be the best and most inspirational nurse I can be and fly the flag for nursing careers.”

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PR: Sun shines on hospice Tour de Moor challenge

More than 1,100 cyclists saddled up on Sunday for St Luke’s Hospice Plymouth’s thrilling Tour de Moor challenge across Dartmoor, conquering craggy kilometres and raising funds for the charity’s compassionate end of life care.

In glorious sunshine, the community-spirited riders of all ages and abilities proudly donned their azure branded T-shirts to turn the moor blue in support of the vital services St Luke’s provides for local families affected by terminal illness.

Negotiating the rugged wilds of the moor, 686 participants pitted their two-wheel skills against the toughest, hill-filled terrain for 52km, while 237 took it down a gear for the brand new 33km Granite and Gears Cycle Trail route, and another 138 opted for a gentler, family-friendly 11km ride along the tarmac paths of Drake’s Trail.

One of St Luke’s flagship annual events, every £1,000 raised by Tour de Moor represents a full package of specialist care at home, free of charge, for one patient and their family on the charity’s patch which reaches across Plymouth and out to more rural areas around Tavistock, Dartmoor and the South Hams.

In previous years it’s often been a battle of mud, along with the sweat and gears, but apart from a few splashy puddles this year’s challenge was more about keeping hydrated in unusually warm temperatures above 20C.

Amid the throng of keen riders were many taking part to pay tribute to a loved one who was looked after by St Luke’s at the end of their life.

Taking on the 33km was Sam Downing, 37, cycling in memory of his dad, Trevor Downing from Plympton, and his cousin David Lawrence from Bigbury, who both received care from St Luke’s nursing teams, as well as friend Godfrey Jay from Cornwall, all of whom died quite recently.

“It’s all about doing something to give back to the people who helped care for them,” said Sam, who raised more than £200 in sponsorship and was riding alongside work colleague Rhys.

“My cousin David passed away just about a month ago and this would have been his 34th birthday, so it feels good to be able to do Tour de Moor today. He had care from St Luke’s at home.

“Dad had prostate cancer and he was in and out of St Luke’s at Turnchapel two or three times in the last six months of his life.”

Possibly the youngest rider confidently braving the 33km route – and certainly one of the event’s biggest fundraisers – was George Lake, aged eight, from Tavistock. His total topped £1,000 thanks to sponsorship from family, friends and other generous donors, including local company DCUK.

Dad, Matthew, who was pedaling the miles with his son, said: “George decided he wanted to do a charity cycle ride. We are lucky not to have needed St Luke’s care, but it’s a cause that is so well known and respected locally that we wanted to support its services.”

Mum, Anna, added: “We see St Luke’s cars out visiting people in our area and we know in years to come our family may need them.”

Teenagers Emily Wragg, 14, and brother Ben, 17, rode with their dad Gareth, in memory of their Nanny, Anne Briggs, and had totted up more than £300 in sponsorship.

Ben said: “St Luke’s helped our Nan out a lot at home at the end of her life and we wanted to do something to help St Luke’s.”

Making it a fun-filled family day out on the gentler 11km route along Drakes Trail for the second year running were the Rixons from Sherford.

Alfie, aged five, and his sister, Annabel, eight, were joined by their intrepid teddy bears Green Bow and Pink Bow, and their dad, Edward.

He said: “I do Tour de Moor and Men’s Day Out every year and would usually cycle the 33km route, but these two aren’t quite big enough yet, although they’ve been riding bikes since they were very young and could do it easily!”

Shane Darwood and his four-year-old rescue cocker spaniel Jess were both having a blast negotiating the moors on his e-bike – a popular choice for the slightly less energetic cyclists. He said: “What a day for it. Absolutely beautiful!”

St Luke’s Head of Fundraising, Penny Hannah, said: “I think this year’s Tour de Moor has been really special because times are tough for a lot of people. That almost 1200 riders still made sure they came out to support St Luke’s work in the community is incredible. Every single one of them should feel proud that they are helping us to keep our services running for the people who need us.

“Of course, we could not have put on something of this scale without our sponsors Print Copy Scan. Huge thanks to them and to everyone who took part in this year’s challenge, plus our army of volunteers, Dartmoor National Park, Maristow Estate, David May Motor Services, The Hire Shop, Devon and Cornwall 4×4 Response and Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team. You have all done your community proud!”

Register your interest for Tour de Moor 2024.

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BLOG: Make every day count as part of our hospice team

Most of us, when we look back on our career, want to feel we’ve made a difference – that the weeks, months and years have really counted and we’ve left the world better than we found it. This is a big part of what makes our lives meaningful, and it’s a great motivator to keep doing the work we do or, perhaps, change direction completely.

If you’ve never considered working as part of our hospice team – or thought about it but not yet gone ahead – it’s worth knowing our staff often tell us it’s been the most fulfilling part of their career – by far! And we’re not just talking about St Luke’s doctors and nurses here – it’s our equally dedicated people working more behind the scenes, too, from kitchen and maintenance staff to administrators, fundraisers, and finance, marketing and IT buffs. All play a vital role in the trusted service our charity provides – free of charge – so that no-one in our community needs to miss out on gold-standard care at the end of their life.

Hospice Care Week (9 – 15 October) is an opportunity for us to say an extra-big thank-you to each and every one our dedicated, hardworking crew. We see you, we value you, we celebrate you!

With demand on our services growing, it’s more important than ever that we continue to attract talent across our services, from hands-on care and bereavement support to our charity shops and fundraising events. As an employer of choice, we want our staff to enjoy coming to work. We offer a positive, supportive and inclusive environment that encourages them to thrive, and attractive benefits and rewards, including generous annual leave and a cash-back scheme to help with everyday health costs, such as dental and eye care.

So, if you’ve been on the fence about working for our hospice, the time to apply is now. It could just be the most life-enhancing move of your career.

We look forward to hearing from you! Visit our job vacancy page and set up a job alert.

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BLOG: Plymouth Argyle Finn makes patient Michael’s day


“It’s an amazing place, and you never know who you’re going to meet!”

St Luke’s patient Michael Scott thought his eyes were playing tricks on him when he spotted top Plymouth Argyle player Finn Azaz walking onto the ward in our specialist unit at Turnchapel.

“Never in a million years did I think that would happen. I recognised him straight away because he has come back to Argyle again this season and he’s scored some goals in recent games. Last year I saw him play a couple of times and, of course, I’ve seen him in the media,” said an astonished and delighted Michael, who has taken his son and daughter to matches at Home Park in the past. “It was a complete surprise!”

Modest midfielder Finn has recently started volunteering for St Luke’s in his spare time. The 23-year-old stopped to chat with Michael and another patient on the ward during his recent visit to our HQ to help the fundraising team.

“Finn came over to talk to me and I told him my life story,” added Michael, 61, who was thrilled that he was able to meet the rising football star before being discharged home a couple of days later. “He came across as a very genuine and nice bloke and he asked me some very good questions. I wish him well for the rest of the season and hope Argyle do as well as they did last year when they went into the Championship.”

Liverpool-born Michael, who lives at Keyham, was in the Royal Navy for 34 years, retiring in 2012. He was working as a safety officer for cruise ships before his diagnosis with Stage 4 bowel cancer. He was seen and supported by St Luke’s hospital team at Derriford before being transferred to our inpatient unit for specialist symptom management. He and his family – wife, Angela, daughter Bethany and son Matthew, who has followed his dad into the Navy – will now have the support of our at home team.

“I’m looking forward to going home but I have thoroughly enjoyed the two weeks I’ve spent in St Luke’s as an inpatient. The people are fantastic, and I feel honoured to have been asked to come here,” said Michael, who was also thrilled to be allowed a couple of hospice visits from his chocolate Labrador Milo. “It’s an amazing place, and you never know who you’re going to meet!”

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