Kilbryde Hospice to stage community roadshows across South Lanarkshire to hear local views
The East Kilbride-based palliative care centre is to host a series of community roadshows in East Kilbride, Hamilton and Rutherglen/Cambuslang to let locals have their say.
Adopting a compassionate community approach, Gordon McHugh, Chief Executive of the hospice, said "compassion does not stop at the front door".
'We are listening", he said. "This is not just about patients — it's about everyone in South Lanarkshire who cares about community, dignity, and compassion.
'Opening our ears at Kilbryde Hospice is very much about letting people know that compassion does not stop at the front door.
'It is the community's hospice and they must have a say – we have always listened, otherwise the hospice would not be here.'
Kilbryde Hospice has been providing end-of-life care to the people of South Lanarkshire for 22 years, with the facility in McGuiness Way established in 2015.
Mr McHugh added that, though they have always listened, they now want to make Kilbryde more widely known while raising a greater awareness in a wider community.
He added: 'South Lanarkshire is a big place with the localities we have. Even if you take East Kilbride alone, with a population of 90,000.
'We have brought the hospice a long way...what's our future? That will be decided by the people of South Lanarkshire.
'To hear their voices, we are staging several locality roadshows in East Kilbride, Hamilton and Cambuslang/Rutherglen.
'This will bring the hospice to the people, in their own localities, in an environment that suits them on an open forum/open door basis.'
People from all walks of life will be encouraged and welcomed but, in particular, Kilbryde's staff and volunteers will aim to connect with 'hardest-to-reach' groups.
'They may be experiencing poverty and see themselves as not being able to give their input, but we know we can give them valued support and we want to hear from them", said Mr McHugh.
'People from the travelling community, ethnic minority groups and people with disabilities across South Lanarkshire - Kilbryde Hospice is for everyone and we need to hear everyone's voice.
'To offer that to the community, we must do it in the most accessible way and people who can't make the events will be able to take part.
'We can send out a survey, have it on social media or post paper copies to people so they can tell us that 'this is what we want for our hospice'.
'Just now, we are in the final year of our Strategy 2023/2026 and these locality roadshows will help us put together a strategy going forward for 2026/2030.
'So, in those four years Kilbryde will be shaped by the community of South Lanarkshire and will strive to give what people ask for."
Venues are still to be secured but all three roadshows are scheduled for October, following the hospice's September AGM.
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