On the 22nd of May 2020 St John’s Hospice hosted a very special day. A day filled with love, friendship and happiness. The day in question was the marriage of Hospice patient Caroline to her partner of 35 years, Mike.

Today dogs, and pets more generally, are being used therapeutically to help improve people’s wellbeing and Therapaws is just one such programme doing amazing work in this area.

T‍his Volunteers' week, Sophie Gray, our Community Fundraising and Volunteering Coordinator speaks to us about a new Befriender scheme she has created to ensure our patients are always being looked after, especially during this difficult time of COVID-19.

As part of the wide-ranging refurbishment of St John & St Elizabeth Hospital, St John’s Hospice Inpatient Unit (IPU) is in line for a major refresh that will make it both more comfortable and more advanced in its provision of palliative care.‍ We caught up with Steve Kimp, our Director of Projects, to hear about the vision for the new IPU.

In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, we are all having to make adjustments in our lives – and this is true for the day-to-day operation of St John’s Hospice, too.‍ Read about the steps we are taking to ensure the safety and comfort of our patients and staff.

From 27th April to 10th May, we will be holding our annual 'Make a Will Fortnight'. During this time we will be offering people the chance to make a simple will – thanks to our team of incredibly generous solicitors – over the phone, for free.

This is our current status at the time of writing, 27th March 2020. We ask you to bear with us as guidance may change as the situation evolves.

At St John’s Hospice, it’s extremely important to us that we help ensure patients in palliative care are able to carry out the tasks and activities that matter most to them – and occupational therapy plays a key role in this process.‍ We caught up with Gina Pavlo, our Specialist Occupational Therapist, to learn more.

When people aren’t feeling well, their appetite often falls by the wayside. However, it’s no secret that to support healthy body functions, it’s vitally important to maintain a balanced, healthy diet and to keep drinking water.‍ Sue Hutton, our Day Care Unit Manager, explains how we ensure our patients are optimally nourished and hydrated while they are in our care.