Hospice of the Good Shepherd

Palliative Care Specialists

Helping Families in Cheshire with Specialist Palliative Care.

Working closely with other health care professionals, we provide quality specialist palliative and end of life care for the people, relatives and carers of our local community.

Hospice of the Good Shepherd COVID-19 Emergency Appeal - Save Your Hospice!

Now more than ever we need your support. The reality is, because of the shocking impact of the Coronavirus, the Hospice is anticipating that it will be at least £1.1 million short of the income needed for the year [Charity Registration No. 515516].
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Coronavirus Advice for Patients & Visitors (updated 22nd October 2020)

The Hospice continues to follow government guidance to ensure the safety of all patients, staff, volunteers and visitors. Please read this before visiting the Hospice.

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Join Our Team!

We have a wide range of roles available here at the Hospice. Click the button below to apply!

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Sunflower Appeal

Dedicate a Sunflower in memory of someone special or to show support for the wonderful work the Hospice continues to provide today. All of the flowers purchased will be on display within the grounds of Chester Cathedral in 2021.

Dedicate your Sunflower

Chester Sparkle Walk

Our Sparkle Walk is BACK for 2021 so get set to SPARKLE and join the hundreds of others at one of our flagship fundraising events. EARLY BIRD tickets now available!

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One Million Step Challenge

Get active during National Walking Month and walk, rung, skip or jump 10,000 steps a day for 100 days – that’s one million steps and about 500 miles!

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May Car Boot Sale

After the success of the Hospice’s Bank Holiday Boot Sale last year and the cancelled one from November, we have managed to secure the Chester Football Club car park once again, to accommodate all of the interested “booters” with parking for all the buyers.

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Our Services

Our specialist team of medical and nursing staff deliver end of life care to our patients and support their families, carers and friends. Our services are varied across a number of disciplines and reflect the diverse nature of our care and support.
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Donations

The Hospice of the Good Shepherd has helped thousands of people and their families living with life limiting illness, predominantly from the kind generosity of people like you who make financial donations and volunteer their time.
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Volunteers

We have been supported by our volunteers ever since the hospice was established and we now have over 400 people contributing their time in so many different ways. Every hour volunteered allows us to continue providing specialist care.
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Professional Care

The Hospice provides specialist palliative and end-of-life care in a welcoming and compassionate environment. Healthcare professionals can refer any patient to the Hospice with an advanced life-limiting disease who need specialist care.
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Our Care

Our dedicated team of staff and healthcare professionals aim to meet the unique physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs of those with a life-limiting illness, and to help maintain their dignity. We provide specialist palliative care for people with cancer and non-cancer life-limiting illnesses, at all stages of their illness.

We’re not just focused on our patients either. We fully recognise that it’s also a difficult time for relatives, carers & friends and we provide support for them too.

Our Funding

Hospice of the Good Shepherd provides its services free of charge to its patients. Just 24% of the funding we receive comes from statutory sources. The remaining 76% is raised from a range of fundraising activities and the support of our very generous local community in Cheshire. In addition, we raise money through our local charity shops and our weekly lottery.

Fundraising events cover a broad range of fun activities so there’s sure to be something for everyone in the family.

How We Support You

Our specialist team of medical and nursing staff deliver end of life care to patients and support their families, carers and friends. The services offered by the Hospice are varied across a number of disciplines and reflect the diverse nature of our care and support.

We understand that for many people the thought of coming to the Hospice can be daunting and may make your and your family anxious and this is a particularly difficult period in people’s lives.

1. In-Patient Services
Our In-Patient Unit consists of 10 beds and is run by a dedicated & professional team of clinical and palliative care consultants, medical and nursing staff, physiotherapists, occupational therapist, administrators, social workers, complementary therapists and our spiritual care team.
2. Living Well Centre
The bright, spacious Living Well Centre is the ‘activity hub’ for our day services and out patient clinics. Our skilled staff and dedicated volunteers aim to improve your quality of life by working together with you to give you informed choices to improve symptom management, address individual concerns and enhance your own coping strategies. The Living Well Centre provides a range of medical, nursing, rehabilitation and wellbeing support therapies.
3. Out Patient Clinics
As well as the in-patient palliative care offered by the Hospice, we also provide a range of care in our out-patient clinics. Of those who attend these clinics, many have been discharged from a stay at the Hospice, and others have been referred by their healthcare professional. As with all of our services, these out-patient attendances are provided free of charge by experienced, qualified professionals.
4. Family Support & Bereavement Services
Grief and loss are complex emotional issues which affect us all at some time or another. At the Hospice of the Good Shepherd we have a dedicated and professional team providing support to people throughout West Cheshire who are dealing with bereavement following the death of a loved one, regardless of when, where or how they died. Counselling is also available to those affected by a life-limiting illness.
5. Social Work & Family Support
Family Support is available to all patients, their carers and families. The Family Support team consists of qualified palliative care social workers, with the Bereavement Service consisting of a team of counsellors and befrienders. Our palliative care social workers can advise about or arrange for any practical help as well as provide emotional support to all patients and families who attend the various services the hospice offers.

Hospice of the Good Shepherd

The modern Hospice movement was founded by Dame Cicely Saunders with the establishment in 1967 of St. Christopher’s Hospice in London. This inspired many people across the country to follow her lead and currently there are over 200 Hospices in the UK providing end of life care to over 200,000 people each year.

The origins of the Hospice of the Good Shepherd started in 1983 with two nurses attended a meeting of the Chester Lions and spoke about their work in caring for patients suffering from cancer. When asked where they were based the nurses explained that they had no base but talked about the idea of a local Hospice.

Under the leadership of Noel Rouse, the Chester Lions approached local businesses, healthcare and community leaders to see if there was sufficient interest in the idea of a setting up a local Hospice. Following a considerable groundswell of support a community meeting was held on 28th September 1983 in Chester Town Hall. It was agreed to set up a working group and at a meeting on 15th November 1983, Vivienne Smith was appointed as Chair of the Hospice Committee.

About Us

Testimonials

“When the end finally came for Mum, Dad was with her and I was in the rose garden of the Hospice. I had just picked up a tag to see the name of a particular rose I loved there – appropriately enough it was called Champagne Memories.”

– Steph

“It is both challenging and rewarding. I feel privileged to work here.”

– Andy Blundell, Staff Nurse

“I couldn’t possibly tell you all about the wonderful practical help that this place has provided us with, without mentioning the special family that we feel a part of. ”

– Sam

Don’t Wait Any Longer. Contact Us Today!