Willow Wood Hospice will be celebrating Hospice Care Week next week.

The occasion is a chance to celebrate hospice care nationwide, and the incredible work being done to ensure everyone can benefit from the very best end-of-life care.

This year, it will focus on workforce under the theme ‘We are hospice care’.

During next week, Willow Wood will be acknowledging the different departments which make the hospice a special place to work - everyone from the inpatient and catering teams to the dedicated volunteers and finance staff.

The hospice’s retail shops in Glossop, Hyde, Stalybridge, 

Denton, Mossley and Ashton will also be decorated with yellow-themed windows - the colour associated with Hospice Care Week.

Karen Houlston first joined Willow Wood as a part-time bookkeeper and has been at the hospice, based in Ashton, since January 2000. 

She progressed to the role of CEO but will retire at the end of May next year.

Karen has spoken fondly about her varied journey at the hospice and is a shining example of the possibilities that a career at a hospice can bring.

She said: “You meet so many incredible people in hospices. 

“I’ve found working at Willow Wood so rewarding - from the patients, staff, families and volunteers.

“There can be a lot of myths around what hospices are like. 

“Sometimes people can feel very anxious before coming in, but they’re often pleasantly surprised. 

“Willow Wood is a really friendly, calm and welcoming place.

“There’s never been a day where I have not wanted to come into work. I would recommend working at Willow Wood to anyone.

“The main qualities I have learned in my job is good listening and communication skills, and the ability to empathise,” she commented.

“The hospice is deeply rooted in the communities of Tameside and Glossop and serves an essential human need in caring for people with a life-limiting illness and those that love them. 

“For me, there remains something special about doing that.”

Toby Porter, CEO at Hospice UK, said: “From clinical staff to bereavement counsellors, kitchen staff to volunteer gardeners, the staff and volunteers who support over 300,000 people every year are what makes hospice care so special.

“This Hospice Care Week, we want to celebrate them.”