Taking part in St Luke’s Christmas raffle is a great way to show your kindness to people living in your area who need our care.
You could scoop our top prize of £2,000 and have extra cash in your pocket to treat yourself and those dear to you, perhaps snapping up a longed-for holiday!
Meet Ali Griffiths, St Luke’s Advanced Specialist Practitioner.
“Joining St Luke’s felt like walking into a hug because of the warmth, camaraderie and laughter around me. Laughter in a hospice? Yes, that’s right because St Luke’s is more about living than it is about dying, helping our patients and their families feel listened to, reassured and uplifted at the toughest of times.
“Your generosity makes this vital difference. Thanks to you, I can spend unhurried time getting to know each person in my care, finding out what matters most to them. Paying close attention to what they say, and sometimes what they don’t say, means that as well as giving hands-on care I can do ‘little things’ to ease some pressure, brighten their day and help them get back to feeling more like themselves again.
“In this very challenging economic climate, which is affecting us all, it is getting even harder for our charity to meet the rising cost of providing personalised care free of charge to our patients. Our dedication will not waver though, because we believe everyone deserves to live well to the end of their lives and, when the time comes, die peacefully with dignity.
“Thank you for supporting St Luke’s Hospice Plymouth. It’s your enduring kindness that has kept our charity doing what we do for the past 40 years so that no terminally ill person in your community misses out on the compassionate care they need at the end of their life.”
How does it work?
To be in with a chance of winning £2,000 or any of our other cash prizes this Christmas, simply pick up some tickets at any of our charity shops or buy online here. From just £1 a ticket, you can make a real difference to local people. The more you buy, the bigger your chance of winning and the more funds you’ll be raising to support St Luke’s.
Thank you so much for being one of the generous people who supports our compassionate care. You make such a difference to people right when they need it most.
Winners will be drawn on 16 December. Find out more and buy your tickets here.
CEO Steve Statham discusses his retirement and St Luke’s
Chief Executive of St Luke’s, Steve Statham, has announced he will be retiring in April 2023 after six years’ service in the role and 18 years with our charity.
Here he discusses his retirement and time at St Luke’s and how he will be leaving the charity in very capable hands.
There is never a ‘perfect’ time to leave a job and organisation you hold very dear, but both personally and professionally it feels like the right time for me to hand over the reins to a successor who will bring with them their own ideas and leadership style.
The decision to retire next year has not been an easy one – not only because I’m incredibly proud of the service that together we have grown, shaped and honed so that it’s the very best it can be for our patients and their families, but because the St Luke’s team are the best of the best.
If you’ll bear with me, I’m going to repeat a story that I’ve told at many a Welcome Day over the years, and it goes back to when I first set foot inside Turnchapel for my interview as HR Director 18 years ago. If I’m completely honest, it was more about getting interview practice than securing the job itself. After all, I told myself, wouldn’t a hospice be rather a depressing place to work? Of course, I was wrong – something that didn’t take long to dawn on me. And, by the time my interview was over, I really wanted the job!
St Luke’s empathy, compassion and positivity was absolutely palpable that day at Turnchapel, just as it always is there or wherever you come into contact with our staff and volunteers. It’s what inspired me to take the job and progress to the role of Chief Executive (via a few years in the Deputy position), and though it’s hard to describe the special atmosphere to people who’ve never experienced it, it’s what I still feel every single day when I come to work.
Being CEO is not a nine-to-five job, far from it, and that’s exactly what you’d expect. Even when I’m out and about in the evenings and at weekends, there are always people wanting to talk to me about St Luke’s and share their personal stories of the difference our team made to them in the midst of a very tough time. In that sense, as CEO you are always ‘on’, but this has never felt like a burden to me. The attention and feedback from our community is simply testament to how much our staff and volunteers do for these families, always exceeding expectations and leaving them with memories that still bring them comfort, even many years on.
Reflecting on my time at St Luke’s and what I feel proudest of – alongside my colleagues – is the way our organisation has continuously innovated to keep pace with the changing needs of our patients, who always come first. There have been times when we’ve had to make difficult decisions, but it’s this agility and patient-centred approach that has helped us adapt and thrive, maintaining the trust of our community and meeting them at their point of need, wherever they happen to be.
I am also proud of the partnerships we have built and strengthened along the way, including with University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust, Marie Curie and Livewell South West, that are so critical to the delivery of seamless care for patients.
While none of us will forget the pandemic in a hurry, so relentless did it feel for us all, what it did for St Luke’s is shine a light on our specialist knowledge and skills in end of life care and bereavement support, which were in demand more than ever before. The way our teams reacted swiftly to help ease the load on our health and social care partners, dealing with huge challenges with such good grace, has been noted throughout our local networks, increasing awareness of, and respect for, what we do.
Even more so than before, they will look to us for their education needs, recognising how valuable our expertise is to them. This is especially heartening given St Lukes’s continued investment in our Education team and its provision for health and social care providers, from GPs to care home staff.
In closing, I want to reassure you that during the next six months before my retirement starts, I will be committed to leading St Luke’s diligently.
I will be leaving our hospice in good shape and in very capable hands. Though it will be very hard to say goodbye in April, it is my trust in our team that gives me complete peace of mind as I plan the next phase of my life.
Travelling…cycling…yes, there’ll be more time to enjoy those, but apart from that I’m remaining open to what retirement may bring. What is certain is that I will take with me huge pride, respect and appreciation for all my colleagues right across St Luke’s our unwavering supporters and fantastic memories of an exceptionally special time.
https://www.stlukes-hospice.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Steve-CEO-Retirement-Blog-Header.jpg7731030Gabby Notthttps://www.stlukes-hospice.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/st-lukes-hospice-plymouth.svgGabby Nott2022-11-03 22:01:522026-06-06 21:45:43CEO Steve Statham discusses his retirement and St Luke’s
We know that you, our wonderfully loyal supporters, always rally to support St Luke’s, so we’re sending out an SOS asking for your urgent help!
So quick is the turnover of the good-quality, pre-loved clothing we sell in our charity shops that stocks are running low, particularly in womenswear. If you have any items that no longer fit or aren’t quite your style anymore, please reach into your wardrobe and then donate to our charity shops at Plympton or Western Approach in Plymouth City Centre so that, in turn, we can reach more families who need us at the toughest time of their lives.
Every time you donate to our stores, you play a vital role in helping us fund the compassionate care for which we are renowned, making your community a kinder a place for people with terminal illness whose time is running short. You’re helping us to be there for them wherever they need us – at home, in hospital or at Turnchapel – for as long as they need us, bringing light at what can feel to them like a very dark time.
We know the cost of living crisis means everyone is feeling the pinch, and the rising cost of providing our services – which we give free of charge to anyone who needs us – is impacting St Luke’s, too.
Not only is recycling your (or your partner’s or kids’!) unwanted clothes by donating them to our charity good for both purse and planet, it’s one of the kindest things you can ever do for our patients and their families. Of course, it also means there’s way more choice of items in our shops for everyone searching out a bargain!
Our charity shops open seven days a week atPlympton (near Chaplin’s) and Western Approach in Plymouth City Centre (the former Toys R Us building), are ready to welcome you and your donations as fast as you can get there. They’re geared up with plenty of space for storage before putting your pre-loved items on display.
From all of us at St Luke’s – our staff and volunteers and, of course, our patients and their loved ones – thank you so much for turning your closet clear-out into vital compassionate care!
https://www.stlukes-hospice.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Ladieswear-Campaign-2022-Blog-Header.png7731030Robert Maltbyhttps://www.stlukes-hospice.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/st-lukes-hospice-plymouth.svgRobert Maltby2022-10-21 13:59:522026-06-06 21:25:26Turn your closet clear-out into compassionate care
Embrace Make a Will Week and look after your loved ones.
Many of us put off making a will. Even though we want to protect our family and friends after we die and know that our property and possessions will be dealt with in the way we choose, it’s a task that’s often avoided or neglected.
But recording your wishes is actually a very straightforward process, as well as an act of kindness for those you leave behind. With that in mind, St Luke’s Hospice Plymouth is inviting people to take advantage of their Make a Will Week, which runs from 7 – 13 November 2022.
Community-spirited local solicitors are giving their time free of charge to create wills during that week, in return for a donation to the much-loved charity, with an option to also leave a legacy for St Luke’s. The funds this raises will help the hospice continue its valuable end of life care and support services for families in Plymouth and surrounding areas for years to come.
Having a will in place can bring you peace of mind, safe in the knowledge that your wishes will be followed through after your death. For your loved ones, having an official record of what you want to happen will make an already distressing time a little bit easier for them. A will spells out exactly how you want your estate to be distributed, rather than everything you own being shared in the standard way specified by law, which might not match up with what you would prefer.
It’s especially important to make a will if you have children or other family members who depend on you financially, or if you want to leave a gift to people or organisations you care about. It’s also crucial to update your will when personal circumstances change, for example, if you get married or divorced, purchase a property, have children or grandchildren, or if a partner or other family member dies.
The generous companies taking part in St Luke’s Make a Will Week include Roper James Solicitors,SWLaw and Woollcombe Yonge Solicitors and they are available for face-to-face pre-booked appointments during the week of 7 – 13 November 2022. The charity has also teamed up with the online will writing service Farewill, which will suit anyone who would prefer to use a web-based option during the same period.
St Luke’s Head of Fundraising Penny Hannah said:“People often forget that it is not always about sorting out the financial aspects. A will ensures your final wishes are clear. Your possessions and property are going to the right place, and the family and children you leave behind will be looked after.
“Our Make a Will Week is an ideal opportunity to make or update your will, especially if your marital status has changed, you have bought a house or recently added to your family.”
Creating or updating your will is also a time when you can choose to leave a legacy to a cause close to your heart. For St Luke’s, it is the funds the charity receives through legacies that help the hospice make plans for its future so that no-one in the local area who has a terminal illness will have to miss out on high-quality care at the end of their lives.
Penny Hannah said: “Leaving a legacy to St Luke’s is a compassionate gesture that helps future generations and makes more of a difference to our patients and their families than you will ever know.”
To create or update your will, simply contact one of the solicitors taking part to make an appointment between 7 and 13 November, quoting ‘St Luke’s Hospice Plymouth Make a Will Week’.
https://www.stlukes-hospice.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Make-a-Will-Week-2022-Blog-Header.jpg7731030Robert Maltbyhttps://www.stlukes-hospice.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/st-lukes-hospice-plymouth.svgRobert Maltby2022-10-20 14:10:172026-06-06 21:25:57Make a Will Week, November 2022
Celebrating the life of their loved one in a way that reflects that person’s special qualities often helps the bereaved find comfort at such a deeply sad time.
For the Kelly family from Devon, paying tribute to much-loved Caitlin, just 23 years old when she died, involved a final adventure that perfectly captured her independent spirit and zest for life.
This Hospice Care Week(10 – 14 October) in partnership with Hospice UK, we’re sharing Caitlin’s story to remember the inspirational young woman she was, to highlight the vital help that hospices and hospice care can provide to people of all ages, and to reveal the very personal part a ground-breaking transatlantic voyage played in her family’s fond and fitting farewell.
At the end of her life, in May 2021, Caitlin – who was born with cerebral palsy and had epilepsy as well was a visual impairment and learning difficulties – was looked after by St Luke’s, initially at University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust, then at our specialist unit at Turnchapel.
Caitlin’s father, Sean Kelly, said: “It wasn’t unusual for Caitlin to have seizures, but when she suffered a brain haemorrhage at home, we knew we were facing something different and very serious.
“The hospital teams – initially at Royal Devon and Exeter and then at Derriford in Plymouth – did everything they could for her, but despite a series of operations the reality began to dawn that her life was coming to an end. When it was suggested it might be time to have a conversation with someone from St Luke’s, Dr Doug Hooper – a member of the charity’s team at the hospital – was there to talk things through with us.
“It was an incredibly difficultsituation to accept because as a parent it’s always your instinct to fight on, but when he told us about Turnchapel, it felt like the best place for Caitlin to spend the final part of her life.”
So much more than simply a place to deliver expert medical provision, her family, including her mother, Jacqueline, brother, Cameron, and sister, Erin, describe the specialist unit as “an oasis of calm” in the most tumultuous of times.
Sean said: “After such a frenetic time, we welcomed the peace we found at the hospice, without the constant distractions of the hospital environment and the very necessary but stressful cacophony of beepers and warning sounds in the Intensive Care Unit. We decorated Caitlin’s room with her artwork, brought in her own pillows and familiar items from home and spent time reading to and just talking to her.”
It wasn’t just the tranquillity of our specialist unit at Turnchapel that made it such a haven for the Kelly family. They found solace in being able to lie down next to Caitlin on our special “cuddle bed”, which at the touch of a button expands from a single into a safe, comfortable double.
Sean said: “It was only afterwards that we learned the cuddle bed was donated in memory of a young lady, Chloe Hunn, who was close to Caitlin’s age when she was looked after at the hospice. Finding out it had been Chloe’s dying wish to have just such a bed so she and her boyfriend could cuddle – and that the family, together with friends and her local Cornish community, had clubbed together to posthumously donate it – made such an impact on us.
“The care and kindness of St Luke’s meant we had the time, space and even a certain serenity – in the midst of this most emotional of experiences – to say our goodbye to Caitlin, something for which we will always be grateful. We were grateful, too, for the support on hand, whether it was the St Luke’s nurses offering a cup of tea, a walk out in the garden or even a chat with the bereavement support staff who made themselves available, both during our time there and after her passing.”
In the week Caitlin was at St Luke’s, by chance Sean and his family, learned about a remarkable challenge, steeped in history, that brought to mind their daughter’s indomitable spirit. As part of celebrations to mark the 400th anniversary of the Pilgrims’ journey on board the Mayflower, from Plymouth, Devon, to Plymouth, Massachusetts, a 21st century cutting-edge, fully autonomous ship, completely run by an IBM computer, was undertaking sea trials in preparation to set to sail – without a crew – following the same route across the Atlantic, collecting important scientific data along the way.
Photo credit: IMB / ProMare Inc
Inspired by Caitlin’s can-do attitude to life, the family – who have relatives in the USA, including Caitlin’s sister – got in touch with Mayflower Autonomous Ship’s co-developer, ProMare Inc, with a very special request.
Sean said: “Plymouth has historically been a point of embarkation and adventure. We explained how much it would mean to us if a few of Caitlin’s personal possessions, includingsome medals, bookmarks but also a small teddy bear from Turnchapel, could make the transatlantic crossing on Mayflower so they could reach her relatives in the USA, and they very kindly agreed. After a circa three-week voyage, the trimaran arrived at its destination in the summer of 2022. Caitlin loved adventures and, in a way, the crossing represented a great adventure in honour of that spirit.
“Our beautiful, happy and sometimes sassy daughter never considered herself to be less able than others. She was defined by her determination to overcome her disabilities and to live her life literally in technicolour. She was – and will always be – such an inspiration to us.”
https://www.stlukes-hospice.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Celebrating-Caitlin-Blog-Header.jpg7731030Gabby Notthttps://www.stlukes-hospice.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/st-lukes-hospice-plymouth.svgGabby Nott2022-10-10 15:00:412026-06-06 21:25:34Celebrating Caitlin: A life lived in technicolour
Cyclists’ support that helps keep the wheels of local hospice care turning
It was big, it was bold and it turned Dartmoor blue, raising vital funds for our compassionate care.
On Sunday 9 October, over 1,000 cyclists of all ages and abilities proudly donned their branded blue tee-shirts and took to the saddle for our annual cycling challenge, Tour de Moor, in support of the vital care we provide for local families affected by terminal illness.
Located on the rugged wilds of Dartmoor, participants pitted themselves against the toughest, hill-filled terrain for 52km, taking it down a gear for the 30km route or opting for the more gentle, 11km ride along the tarmac paths of Drake’s Trail.
Sponsored by local company Print Copy Scan Ltd, Tour de Moor helps support the specialist services we provide free of charge to our patients, reaching across Plymouth and into rural areas, including Tavistock, Dartmoor and the South Hams.
Among the sea of cyclists were many taking part in tribute to a loved one looked after by St Luke’s at the end of their life.
Taking on the 52km for his second year was Steve from Tavistock “There’s downhills, a lot of uphill’s, the climbs are horrible but when you get to the top at Princetown the views are amazing and it is so rewarding when you get to the finish. This year I am taking in part in memory of my Grandad who died a few weeks ago of cancer. St Luke’s were there from the start of the diagnosis, to treatment and until his passing. I must say St Luke’s were with the family step by step and provided an unbelievable service, you couldn’t ask for a better charity. It was unbelievable”.
Joining him was Steve Hodge from Plymouth “I’m cycling today for a good friend of mine, Matthew Reynolds who had his 50th birthday in late August and died the week after. He had such great care in St Luke’s, they made it more comfortable for him and extended that support to the whole family. It is such a great local charity, getting involved in an event like this is just nice to give something back”.
But it is not all mud, sweat and hills, Tour de Moor also has a more gentle 11km family route along Drakes Trail. Making it a family day out was English folk singer, songwriter Seth Lakeman and his son Morley. Seth cycling in memory of a good friend, said: “It is so important to support a charity like this, St Luke’s have touched people in so many different ways. I can’t imagine a Devon without St Luke’s, the end of life care and what they achieve is almost hard to fathom. I think these sort of moments when you are pushing yourself physically I felt quite emotional crossing the line and thought of those people who aren’t around anymore and how St Luke’s have helped them”.
And, with 2022 marking 40 years since we welcomed our first patients, in 1982, for each and every Tour de Moor participant there was the pride of receiving a special commemorative medal on their completion of the challenge.
St Luke’s Head of Fundraising, Penny Hannah, said: “It was incredibly moving to see so many cyclists turn out in support of our charity’s compassionate care for families going through the toughest of times.
“All our Tour de Moorers should feel incredibly proud because it is their support – and that of everyone who fundraises and volunteers for us – that will help us keep doing what we do for the next 40 years and beyond. Huge thanks to everyone who took part in this year’s challenge, our volunteers, Dartmoor National Park, Maristow Estate, David May Motor Service’s, The Hire Shop, Appleby Westward and Rapid Relief Plymouth all for whom we could not put on an event of this scale. You have done your community proud!”
https://www.stlukes-hospice.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/TDM-SETH-LAKEMAN-BLOG-HEADER.jpg7731030Gabby Notthttps://www.stlukes-hospice.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/st-lukes-hospice-plymouth.svgGabby Nott2022-10-09 17:35:512026-06-06 21:26:16Tour de Moor: Cyclists’ support that helps keep the wheels of local hospice care turning
https://www.stlukes-hospice.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Light-up-a-Life-2025-Web-Feature.jpg380660Jesse Cambridgehttps://www.stlukes-hospice.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/st-lukes-hospice-plymouth.svgJesse Cambridge2022-09-17 08:20:552026-02-10 22:01:02Light Up a Life
Wild swimming in Scotland, days out in London and trips to Center Parcs.
At St Luke’s, our staff are very special to us and we felt they deserved a treat. This year, in honour of our 40th anniversary, all staff members received a day off for their birthday.
Every member of St Luke’s works tirelessly to provide a dedicated service to the local community, whether one of our nurses or behind the scenes as one of our maintenance team, everyone has a key part to play.
To say thank you for their dedication and hard work, staff were able to take their birthday off and spend it however they choose. We asked some staff members to share how they spent their birthday day off.
“I had my birthday day off in January and got the train to Totnes with a friend. We went to China Blue and painted giant pasta bowls. Then we had a late pub lunch on the main street and eventually got the train home in time for one of my favourite dinners with my family, fajitas!”People Services Administrator Nancy Bennett.
“I use most of my annual leave covering school holidays so having a day that was purely for me was amazing, and felt very decadent. I popped into town, and didn’t have to rush back to the kids, or have them there asking to go to the toy shop. No big exciting event, but it meant so much to me.”HR Manager Caroline Bellamy.
“My birthday fell on the early spring bank holiday Monday in May this year, so I could take another day in place of this. The week before my birthday I went to Centre Parcs at Longleat with my daughter, my sister and her family and my mum. Whilst we were in Longleat it was also my sister’s birthday and my nephew’s birthday two days after mine so we were triple birthday celebrating!”Assistant Accountant Sarah-Jayne Hayne.
“My birthday was in March and I went swimming in the Cromarty Firth (in the Scottish Highlands) with my sister.”Moving and Handling/Ergonomics Adviser Dr Valerie Noble.
“I took the opportunity to spend a long weekend with my best friend in London, watching ‘Back to the Future’ the musical (awesome and incredibly funny), enjoying a high tea at the Claremont hotel at Charing Cross, enjoying delicious Tapas, getting in some retail therapy in Covent Garden and at the outlet shopping mall in O2, rediscovering Camden, commuting on the Thames Clipper (now Uber Boat) and generally enjoying chilling on rooftops and by the river. Thanks St Luke’s, I loved it and it was just what I needed.”Head of Facilities and Maintenance, Louisa Duggan-Smith.
St Luke’s offers an attractive employment package for employees, including seven weeks’ annual leave, pension and membership of a cashback scheme to help towards healthcare costs.
This is just one of the reasons why St Luke’s is an employer of choice. Take a look at our current vacancies and sign up to job alerts to find your next role.
https://www.stlukes-hospice.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Birthdays-Blog.jpg7731030Gabby Notthttps://www.stlukes-hospice.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/st-lukes-hospice-plymouth.svgGabby Nott2022-08-15 07:00:522026-06-06 21:26:29Fancy having your birthday off work?
Whenever you need us, we’ve got you covered. And not just you but the loved ones around you, too.
For Fran, the multicoloured blanket crocheted especially for her beautiful wife Lisa by St Luke’s Specialist Nurse Ali is so much more than just an attractive throw. It perfectly symbolises the warmth and compassion with which Ali and her colleagues looked after Lisa at home in North Prospect before sadly, she died last month. It also encapsulates the loving kindness our team has been wrapping around Fran and the couple’s wider family, too.
When, last July, Lisa received the devastating news that her cancer had returned and the diagnosis was terminal, it was crushing for her, Fran and everyone who loved this brave, caring and spirited lady, including sons Lee and Tony and Lisa’s sister Kerry.
Fran said: “It felt like a scary time, full of uncertainty about how and where Lisa would get the care she so desperately needed, but then St Luke’s got involved. From day one, the team was so friendly and reassuring. They became just like family to us, visiting every day and at the end of the phone whenever they were needed. Ali always answered our questions honestly – just as we wanted – but always with such kindness.
“I knew from its reputation that St Luke’s care would be really good, but their attention to detail is simply phenomenal. They put in a hospital bed so Lisa could be looked after at home, which is what she wanted, and even gave her a pamper day. It meant the absolute world to her to get glammed up with hair, nails and make-up done, feeling more like herself again.
“You only have to see the blanket Ali made for Lisa to know the level of kindness we’re talking about, not only for Lisa but for me, too. I can’t say enough good things about St Luke’s – I just don’t know what we would have done without them.”
When a much-loved person dies, they leave a huge gap in the lives of everyone to whom they meant so much. In the midst of the heartbreak of losing Lisa, Fran is finding comfort in treasured memories of the wife she adored and all the wonderful times they shared over 18 years together.
Fran said: “Lisa and I worked together at Plymouth Community Homes, and we did everything else together, too – gardening, walking, meals out and holidays. Lisa brought me such happiness. I called her my Mary Poppins because she was practically perfect in every way.”
In the week before Lisa died, she and Fran took the courageous step of telling their story in our video, which Lisa’s family has kindly given us permission to share. We are so grateful to them for doing this to shine a light on hospice care and the vital difference it makes to families going through the toughest of times.
Lisa passed away on 6 July knowing Fran and family would be stepping out at our Midnight Walk on 22 July, raising funds to help our team be there for other families at their time of greatest need.
The final word goes to this special lady, whose memory will live on in the hearts of everyone who was privileged to call her family or friend. Before she died, Lisa said: “I couldn’t have got through this without Fran – she is my everything. From my sons to my sister Kerry, my family has been amazing, too.
“I can never say enough thank-yous to St Luke’s for everything they’ve done for us. They showed me it isn’t about dying but about living til the end.”
https://www.stlukes-hospice.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/FRAN-LISA-BLOG-HEADER.jpg7731030Gabby Notthttps://www.stlukes-hospice.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/st-lukes-hospice-plymouth.svgGabby Nott2022-08-07 11:30:572026-06-06 21:26:54St Luke’s covering of kindness for Lisa and Fran
If you’re thinking of a midlife career change, there’s a lot to weigh up. But as Sally Hutchings and Kate Hillman – both in their 50s – have shown, it’s never too late to follow your heart!
Having both enjoyed long, fulfilling careers in the police, these inspirational women made the choice re-train rather than retire. Now, they’re part of our dedicated team, where each member is valued as a person and not only for what’s on their CV.
Sally’s story
At 18, it was a strong desire to serve her community that led Sally, now 54, to join Devon and Cornwall Police as a uniformed officer. A successful 30-year career saw her rise through the ranks to Neighbourhood Inspector for Plymouth City Centre and Stonehouse and provide cover for the Chief Inspector for Plymouth.
Sally, who is married with four children and lives in Saltash, said: “I really enjoyed the variety of my police career, but – as I approached 50 – I started to feel it was ‘now or never’ if I was ever going to make the leap into nursing. I’d gained interest in the idea over the years, partly due to the many hospital visits I made with my daughter Jo, who has cystic fibrosis.
“My lightbulb moment came one night when, looking across into another ward, I saw a nurse sitting at the bedside of an elderly man I sensed was dying. I had such a powerful feeling that working in end of life care was where I was meant to be. I could carry on making a difference in my community, but in different way – helping people at the most vulnerable time of all, when what they most need is the reassurance they are not alone and to be treated with sensitivity, kindness and respect.”
Later, a conversation with Ali Griffiths – now Community Nurse Specialist (CNS) at St Luke’s but at that time manager of the ward where Sally’s daughter Jo was receiving her treatment – spurred Sally on to study full time to be a nurse. Sally said: “Ali looked me right in the eyes and said: “It’s not too late – just do it!”.”
Sally first joined St Luke’s at Turnchapel, where we look after our most vulnerable patients. She then went to work at Derriford’s Emergency Department to gain more nursing experience before joining our Hospital team. Soon, she’ll be moving across to our Community team, where – in a wonderful twist of ‘fate’ – her manager will be CNS Ali, who helped inspire her big career change!
Sally said: “Working in the police, I was used to listening to people and having sensitive conversations, and what’s so great about St Luke’s is that they recognise these transferable skills. It isn’t just my nursing degree but my life experience they see as an asset.”
“The greatest gift we can give those in our care is to remember they are people, not simply patients. It’s the little extras, too, like the wedding I helped organise at short notice for a terminally ill lady at the hospital. Seeing what it meant to her and her family felt incredibly special. When time is running short for someone, it is such a privilege to help them feel more comfortable and in control, and to ensure their families have beautiful memories they can treasure for years to come.”
Kate’s story
For former Detective Inspector Kate, who is in her 50s and joined our Urgent Care team as a Healthcare Assistant (HCA) team in May, being in a healthcare environment is in many ways familiar territory. She said: “In the police, I had safeguarding responsibilities for children so often spent time in hospitals, and when my husband became ill and needed to be cared for at Derriford, being there with him really developed my interest in taking up a career in health.”
It was later though, when her father Mark was being looked after at Turnchapel in the last hours of his life, that Kate’s desire to work in hospice care was sparked. She said: “The team was wonderful with my dad, helping him die peacefully and supporting us as a family. It had a really big impact on me. I knew I wanted to help people in the same way.”
Having reached the stage where she could retire from the police, Kate’s journey to follow her dream began when she embarked on a six-month development programme to qualify as an HCA. Happily, she then spotted the job advert for the part-time position she now has with us. She said: “I won’t deny it felt daunting at first, being ‘the new girl’ with so much to learn, but everyone is so friendly and supportive, and I can really feel my confidence growing.
“What I love is that we can spend unhurried time with the people we look after in their own homes, doing whatever is needed to make them comfortable. While ultimately, we can’t change the outcome, there’s a lot we can do to make sure they get back to feeling more like themselves again. I find it incredibly rewarding.
“Though I left the police, all my experience of working with families through such sensitive times came with me to St Luke’s. There’s scope to develop with the hospice, too, so I’m looking forward to spending some time working with the in-patient team soon. That’s the really great thing about stepping outside your comfort zone – the opportunity to keep learning and growing. I’d recommend it to anyone!”
Find out more about working with our dedicated team – directly with patients or more behind the scenes – and check out our latest job vacancies here.
https://www.stlukes-hospice.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Sally-Kate-Stories-BLOG-HEADER-1.jpg7731030Gabby Notthttps://www.stlukes-hospice.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/st-lukes-hospice-plymouth.svgGabby Nott2022-07-31 18:43:542026-06-06 21:27:03Follow your heart to find a life-enhancing career
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