This Hospice Care Week (5 - 11 October), St Catherine's Hospice is joining hospices across the UK to urge people not to leave hospice care to chance. As demand for end of life care continues to grow, the charity is highlighting the vital difference hospice support makes to local families and the importance of community support in securing its future. 

Hospice care eases the physical and emotional pain of death and dying, helping people focus on living, right until the end. But Hospice UK warns that nearly one in three people in the UK do not get the care they need at the end of their lives, and where someone lives can affect their chance of getting the support they need. 

Crawley resident, Bob Beeson, is joining St Catherine's call for the community to help ensure everyone who needs hospice care can access it, now and in the future. 

Bob shares his family's experience of hospice care after his wife Heather spent her final days on St Catherine's Ward: 

"When I needed the extra help in the last few days of Heather's life, St Catherine's were there for us.  

"On the Sunday before she passed away, things were desperate, and I was struggling. Once Heather was on the Ward at the hospice, I knew that she would be in the professional hands of their caring staff. 

"The nurses couldn't do enough. The whole way that the room was set out, the facilities, the advice available; it was amazing. My children and I spent as much time as we could with Heather, we were always made to feel welcome. 

"The care, attention and love we received was just amazing. It was, I felt, the end that Heather deserved." 

Bob shares how his experience of hospice care goes beyond end of life:  

"I cared for Heather at home for as long as possible. Nurses from St Catherine's Community Team would come and visit every couple of weeks to assess Heather's condition. They were always there in the background, so I knew they were there when we needed them. 

"Three months after Heather passed away, I got an invitation to attend group bereavement support sessions at St Catherine's. I didn't hesitate. The sessions put everything into perspective. It was very comforting to understand the grief process and helped me see it in a different light. The whole experience was surprisingly enjoyable, as well as informative, reassuring and comforting. It was amazing." 

Paula McGoveney, Director of Income Generation and Marketing from St Catherine's Hospice, says: 

"Hospice care transforms lives, helping people live well for as long as possible and ensuring families receive the support they need before and after a loved one's death.  

"Government funding only covers around a third of the cost of delivering our care. The generosity of local people is what enables us to continue providing our specialist support for patients and their families across West Sussex and East Surrey. 

"This Hospice Care Week, we're asking people to remember that hospice care doesn't happen by chance. It's made possible thanks to communities that choose to support their local hospice. Every donation, volunteer hour and fundraising effort helps ensure we're there for local families when they need us most." 

Help St Catherine’s be there through the precious memories, final goodbyes and moments after. Every donation matters when time is short: www.stch.org.uk/donate