My dad spent the last few weeks of his life in Saint Michaels hospice. On my first visit, as I drove down the driveway, I felt an enormous sense of relief. My dad had spent his entire life outdoors camping or fishing, walking etc. Obviously that stopped once he became ill but the surroundings of the hospice are so beautiful I knew he was in the perfect place, as if it had been tailor made.

The nursing staff made sure dad could get outside in the chair they customised for him and made sure he was as happy as possible. I truly believe they are angels on earth and we , as a family, can never repay what they did for dad and for us - always making sure we were ok and stopped for a chat if we ever needed.

We have made a promise to keep doing our bit for this amazing place, so that other families can keep their loved ones in a place that helps the end of life process feel just that tiny bit more bearable.

Saint Michael’s is the local hospice care charity ensuring people affected by terminal illness across the Harrogate district can access high quality, personalised care. They do this by offering a range of services from our Hornbeam Park-based hospice, and out in the community in people’s own homes, as well as reaching out regionally and nationally. They are also passionate about working in partnership to enable others to offer hospice-standard care. They believe everyone should get care that is personalised and responsive to their individual needs.