The dedication and hard work of staff and volunteers at St Kentigern Hospice has been applauded by three politicians who visited the facility last week.
Vale of Clwyd MP Dr James Davies, Clwyd West MS Darren Millar, and Vale of Clwyd MS Gareth Davies visited the St Asaph hospice on Friday, and met with the Chief Executive Iain Mitchell, who has since retired, and Jane McGrath, Matron.
They also met with Jon Osborne, Board Trustee and Quality and Safety Committee Chairperson at St Kentigern Hospice, and retired ENT Consultant at Glan Clwyd Hospital, who in 2019 led a crew on a two-month challenge on his yacht to raise funds for the hospice.
During the visit they discussed St Kentigern’s work, and how they provide specialist palliative care for those living with life limiting illness, as an outpatient or an inpatient.
They also discussed the pride they have for their staff, and how they worked during the pandemic, and shared some stories of how they have helped patients before their death and supported families.
Dr James Davies MP said:
“We are extremely fortunate in Denbighshire to have this excellent facility on our doorstep, providing an outstanding service not only to those receiving care but also their families.
“I last visited in 2020, just before the start of the pandemic, so it was good to return to find out how they coped during that challenging period and the impact of restricted fundraising during this period.
“Like all hospices in Wales, unfortunately St Kentigern does not receive the statutory funding that they need and they have to rely on the generosity of the local community. They told us the past two years have been challenging and I therefore urge people to support the hospice where they can.”
Darren Millar MS said:
“St Kentigern Hospice provide high quality palliative and end-of-life care services which are vital to the local community and it was great to be able to visit on Friday to meet with Iain and Jane to find out more about their most recent work, and it was particularly interesting to hear how they operated during the pandemic.
“The hospice only receives a very small portion of its funding from the Welsh Government, yet they still manage to deliver a first-rate service.
“It was a very informative visit and the perfect opportunity to thank Iain on his last day in post as Chief Executive for all that he has done during his time at the hospice, and to also extend my gratitude to the wonderful team at the hospice, both staff and volunteers.”
Gareth Davies MS said:
“It was a pleasure to have the opportunity to see the excellent facility at St Kentigern Hospice and I’d like to extend my thanks to the hardworking staff and board that provide a first-class facility to those who require this specialist care in our local society.
“Some fear coming to a hospice for support and care, but it’s reassuring to know that we have a first class, modern facility which is available to provide holistic care to people when they need it most.”
Jane McGrath (Matron) said :
“It was a huge privilege to be able to share the work the Hospice has been doing since the newly extended and refurbished facilities reopened in March 2020, and more importantly to emphasise the support that we have been able to offer for those requiring specialist palliative care and their families, during such challenging times, focusing on “what matters“ to patients and those close to them.”
