40 YEARS OF CARE
Landmarks will turn blue to honour crucial work of hospice
Strathcarron Hospice is no stranger to glowing tributes - and rightly so.
But tonight, Wednesday, landmarks across Forth Valley will be glowing to mark a major milestone in the much-loved hospice’s history.
Venues such as the Wallace Monument in Stirling, the Kelpies in Falkirk and the Speirs Centre in Clackmannanshire will be lit up in blue to honour 40 years of Strathcarron.
Since its opening on April
21, 1981 - exactly four decades ago - the hospice has provided palliative care for thousands of patients across the Forth Valley and Cumbernauld and support for their families.
The idea of a hospice and the planning started in 1975 when Dr Harold Lyon met with a few friends to consider whether their vision of “professional excellence and Christian compassion in a place that would be a home from home” was achievable.
The hospice purchased the house, Randolph Hill, in 1978, and spent nearly £250,000 converting it to provide 12 beds.
But there was always an aspiration to have a purposebuilt in-patient unit as well as day care, home care and education services.
All that and more has now been achieved over the 40 years.
The charity’s services are still provided free of charge wherever they are needed
– in people’s own homes, in hospitals and care homes and in the hospice itself in Denny.
The Covid-19 pandemic has meant the 40th anniversary celebrations have to be very different from what may have been envisaged.
But the Strathcarron team are masters of adapting to need.
Fundraising manager Jackie Johnston said: “Many people are preferring to remain at home rather than another care setting right now, so the services provided by our team have been rapidly developed over recent months to support people in the best way possible.
“The hospice doctors, physiotherapists, occupational therapist, chaplain, social workers, clinical nurse specialists and Hospice@ Home healthcare assistants are supporting more people than ever in their place of choice.
The lymphoedema team, day hospice and compassionate community team have brought forward innovative ways to keep connected to the people under their care.
“Since the beginning of this year it has been necessary for the hospice to close its doors from time to time for new admissions.
“However we continue to take referrals and work together in a collaborative approach, to provide the best level of care for people with a life limiting illness or nearing the end of their life. It’s what we pride ourselves in.
“Support may be carried out in different ways but compassion and care remain at our core. This is true thanks to the continued support from the public.”
All the original anniversary plans, in particular for fundraising, are unable to go ahead as intended - but services remain open for people living with, or dying from, terminal illness.
“This has not stopped due to the pandemic,” said Jackie “although it has been necessary to adapt some services.
For example, we have been unable to run the day hospice for people to attend and are supporting them in different ways, in a virtual basis. The education team have been supporting and providing training for colleagues in the wider community, such as care homes and the Scottish Ambulance Service.
“All of a sudden care workers were dealing with death and dying on a daily basis and they were grateful for the expertise we were able to share with them.”
Observer readers Anne Catherine Barrett and Karen George were among those who thanked Strathcarron for their care for their own families.
Anne said: “Over the years, the wonderful staff have cared for my mum in her last days; my aunt both in day care and inpatient care; and my friend when she had to learn to walk again after having a leg removed. Their care was exemplary. Nothing was too much trouble.”
Karen added: “I don’t think I could even begin to sum up how much Strathcarron Hospice helped my dad and the family in the final months, weeks, days and hours of his life. The staff are truly amazing. Some of the kindest, most compassionate people I have ever met.”