Save Your Local Hospice

A local hospice has launched an Emergency Coronavirus Appeal to the community asking for urgent support to stay open.

The Hospice of the Good Shepherd is continuing to support patients and families who are living with life limiting illnesses and supporting people at the end of their life. By continuing these vital services, the Hospice is working hand in hand with the NHS and allowing the local hospitals to increase their capacity to focus on patients with Coronavirus.

However, the Hospice is now facing an unprecedented financial crisis due to the shocking impact of the Coronavirus and without urgent financial support they will run out of money in a matter of months.

New restrictions on our daily life mean they cannot hold any fundraising activities and have had to close its 5 charity shops across Chester and Ellesmere Port; its anticipated there will be at least a £1.1 million shortfall for this year.

Dave Harrington-Wright, local businessman, Chair of local Chester FC and volunteer at the Hospice, has had recent first-hand experience of just how important the Hospice is to local people.

David said: “Nobody thinks they will need the support of their local Hospice, I certainly didn’t. But we were so grateful for their support towards the end of my wife Fiona’s life.”

Fiona was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in December 2018 where she was referred for treatment at the hospital. From February 2019 until October 2019 she had 194 visits to the hospital.

Fiona was then admitted to hospital in November and although she had received great care, she was still in considerable pain and was referred to the Hospice.

David said: “It was absolutely amazing from the second we walked through the door, we felt like someone had put their arms around us. Fiona was totally pain free for the first time in the 18 months she had suffered.”

He continued: “She was treated as an individual and the levels of staffing and person-centred care were exceptional. They also supported myself, family and visitors. The nurses always had time for us both and nothing was too much trouble. I was so relieved to know that Fiona was in the best possible place.”

Fiona died peacefully in early January, pain free and with quality of life right until the end.

David said: “I wanted to spend every last minute that I could with her and the Hospice made that possible. They gave us time and space to have so many conversations that we might otherwise never have had.

He continued: “Fiona supported charities all her life and I know she would want me to tell her story to support our fantastic local Hospice. I know that we are all facing uncertain and challenging times, but I’d ask you to please make a donation now to ensure they can continue to provide these essential services in our community.

“None of us know when we will need the Hospice and we need to make sure it is here for the future.”

Even during these difficult times, staff at the Hospice are focussed on continuing to deliver the high-quality end of life care that so many members of this community have experienced.

The Hospice will have supported a member of your family, a friend, a neighbour or colleague so you will know just how precious this Hospice is to our community.

Support the #SaveYourHospice appeal now at

https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/saveyourhospice or call 01244 851 811.

The Hospice, which is not part of the NHS, receives only 25% of its income from government funding meaning it has to raise just over £3 million each year from donations, fundraising events and charity shops which are now all on hold.

The Hospice of the Good Shepherd provides end of life care to patients living with life-limiting illness from Chester, West Cheshire and Ellesmere Port. They provide a 10 bedded in-patient unit, a Living Well Centre which provides day support to help patients maintain their independence and to stay at home longer as well as bereavement support for both adults and children across the catchment area whether or not the death of their loved one was connected to the Hospice.