Secretary of State for Health & Social Care Wes Streeting Visits Saint Francis Hospice

We were delighted to welcome Wes Streeting MP, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care and local MP for Ilford North, to Saint Francis Hospice last Friday. His visit was a fantastic opportunity to showcase our hospice’s work, discuss challenges and share ideas about the future of hospice care.

During his visit, Mr. Streeting toured our hospice ward and met with our incredible nursing team. He listened to the challenges we face every day and heard some heartwarming stories about the people we’ve cared for. Reflecting on his time with us, Grazina Berry, our CEO, said:

"It was wonderful to share our work with Mr. Streeting. He engaged warmly with our team and took the time to discuss the wide range of issues facing our sector. I was heartened by his clear support for end-of-life care, our hospice, and the wider hospice movement. His recognition of the pressures on our budgets, worsened by the recent financial challenges as a result of the NI increase, and his commitment to seeking immediate and long-term solutions, is very encouraging."

At Saint Francis Hospice, we’re proud to provide care and support to people at the end of their lives, wherever they need us most—often in their own homes. In fact, 85% of our care happens in the community, working closely with local hospitals and care homes. Since January, our dedicated team has prevented 3,250 hospital admissions, ensuring people receive care in their preferred setting while reducing strain on local health services.

Rising costs and increasing demand for our services make sustainable funding for hospices more critical than ever. We’re committed to working in partnership alongside our community, local healthcare providers, and neighbouring hospices to address these challenges together. Recent collaborative meetings with our partners have focused on sharing resources and building innovative solutions to workforce pressures.

We asked Mr. Streeting about ongoing workforce challenges in healthcare and how important it is to support those who choose a career in palliative care. Mr. Streeting replied:

“It's a stage of our lives which is inevitable and it's a moment in our lives which stay with families for a long time and the support the people working in end-of-life care is really quiet, I think, life-changing and life-affirming for lots of people.”

“So, I would say it's a great place for people to spend their career and if people are starting out in nursing or as healthcare assistants or thinking about a career in health and care in any way.”

We asked Mr. Streeting, as our local MP for Ilford North, how do you see Saint Francis Hospice contributing to the broader goals of health equality and what role can the government play in achieving this?

“I think everyone deserves a good death and that's what the amazing support provided by the team at Saint Francis Hospice provides and that's why it's so important that as well as government playing an active role in supporting our hospices, it's also really important that we, as the local community give what we can and do what we can to support our local hospice.”

We are grateful for Wes Streeting’s visit and his ongoing advocacy for hospices and palliative care. His acknowledgment of our work and his commitment to the sector give us hope for the future of end-of-life care.

Grazina Berry added:

"We’re optimistic about the future and excited to be part of shaping solutions for the hospice sector. Together, we can ensure that everyone in our community receives the compassionate, holistic, person-centered care they deserve."

Photos:

• Caron Sharp, Health Care Assistant, Saint Francis Hospice
• Dr Corinna Midgley, Medical Director, Saint Francis Hospice
• Grazina Berry, CEO, Saint Francis Hospice
• Karen Delin, Senior Ward Sister, Saint Francis Hospice
• Sam Gould, Constituency Office Manager for Wes Streeting MP
• Wes Streeting, Secretary of States for Health & Social Care