What a weird year we have been through! Lockdowns, jabs, delta, omicron, self-isolating, LFTs, PCRs, masks, social distancing, etc… It really has been extraordinary, but isn’t it strange what one can become accustomed to? That said, I don’t think we should underestimate the toll this has taken on our emotional wellbeing, even for those who consider themselves to be stoic, no-nonsense and “just get on with it” types.

Personally I have found 2021 to be tiring and stressful, but what’s carried me through my lowest times has been all of you and feeling myself to be a part of an amazing and supportive team. So I want to pay tribute to everyone who works for our hospice whether employed or as a volunteer, to our huge number of supporters, and to the inspiring people who have placed their trust in us and used our services this year. Thank you for being a fantastic bunch, helping each other through, and making Weston Hospicecare such a special place.

The hospice has been through a rollercoaster of ups and downs this year, but we are finishing 2021 in good shape. There are some exciting projects underway and we hope to bring plenty of good news to you as the new year unfolds. One thing I will share with you now is the legal completion just this week of a 10-year lease of our new Retail Hub, which is scheduled to open in February, moving from Lynx Crescent to Searle Crescent and incorporating for the first time a Superstore and dedicated Donation Centre. Please click here for photos of the premises complete with temporary scaffolding as repairs are effected and a mock-up of the signage we are planning. This is hugely exciting and will help to drive up our income in 2022 so that we can finance continued expansion of our clinical services, take better care of our own staff, and improve our hospice facilities for patients and their loved ones.

To everyone, I wish you a peaceful and relaxing Christmas with your family and friends, I hope your plans are not being too disrupted by recent events, and a healthy and happy New Year to all of you also.