St Andrew’s calls on local community to Heart My Hospice this Hospice Care Week

Next week, St Andrew’s Hospice – along with charitable hospices across the UK – is encouraging the public to support their local hospice in whatever way they can – whether by donating, volunteering or showing they care on social media – during Hospice Care Week.

The theme for this year’s Hospice Care Week – which takes place from 8-14 October and is led by national hospice and palliative care charity Hospice UK – is “Heart My Hospice.”

St Andrew’s Hospice is committed to providing the highest standard of Specialist Palliative Care to the people of Lanarkshire. It provides physical, emotional, social and spiritual support to patients, their families and carers. The Hospice cares for up to 120 patients per week across all its services. All services are provided free of charge to the patient.

Although St Andrew’s Hospice receives a contribution to their running costs from NHS Lanarkshire, the charity requires to raise £4.6 million through public donations every year.

Bruce High, Chief Executive of St Andrew’s Hospice is grateful for the people of Lanarkshire’s continued support: “The Hospice has provided care and support to patients, families and carers for over 30 years now. We have only been able to do this thanks to people buying from our shops, playing our lottery, supporting our events and leaving gifts in their Wills. With such support we are confident of being able to continue to support patients and their families over the next 30 years and beyond.”

More than nine in ten people (92 per cent) say that hospices are “an important asset to their community” according to an earlier ComRes survey commissioned by Hospice UK.

More than half of those surveyed (52 per cent) have interacted with a hospice in some way, such as donating money to help support hospice care (27 per cent).

And more than a third of those surveyed (37 per cent) say they would be willing to volunteer for a hospice.

Tracey Bleakley, Chief Executive of national hospice and palliative care charity Hospice UK, said:

“Hospices have a special place in people’s hearts, especially for those who have seen first-hand the incredible care they provide to loved ones.

“We hope that during Hospice Care Week the public will take up the opportunity to show their affection for hospices whole-heartedly and demonstrate their support in practical ways whether donating, volunteering or spreading the word about hospice care on social media.”

To find out more about St Andrew’s Hospice and the services it provides or for information on how you can support their work by; donating, attending a fundraising event, holding your own fundraiser or volunteering, please visit www.st-andrews-hospice.com