Ashgate Hospice patients and staff contribute to podcast series

Ashgate Hospice patient Roy featured in the first podcast.

The Life and Death Podcast series is hosted by Stephen Rumford, senior physiotherapist at Ashgate Hospicecare in Chesterfield, and features frank and honest conversations around death and what ‘dying well’ really means.

Fortnightly episodes will welcome both givers and receivers of end of life care, to discuss their unique relationships, hospice life, and how death affects the living.

Stephen, who has spent more than a decade in in his current role at Ashgate Hospicecare, believes that now is the perfect time to be launching such a podcast. Despite people seeing each other less during Covid-19, a death and its lasting effect on those left behind remains just as devastating for those involved.

He said: “I’ll be talking about my experience of working in palliative care, working with the dying and giving an insight into Ashgate Hospicecare and our patients’ lives. Every day I see the impact Ashgate is having on families and I can’t wait to share some of those stories.”

The first episode, which aired on October 9, featured Ashgate Hospicecare patient Roy Hackett, a father, a grandfather and recently a great-grandfather. Roy reminsced on his childhood, before changing the discussion to how hospice life is for Stephen. Further into the episode, Roy turns to Stephen and remarks: “It’s one’s duty to live, to bring pleasure to those around you. It’s why you’re on this earth.”To listen to the podcast through your desired platform, or on Ashgate’s website and social media, go to https://audioboom.com/channels/5035220.

In the last six years, Ashgate Hospicecare has seen a 100% increase in patient referrals to the hospice, which supports people with life-limiting conditions and their families in north Derbyshire, the High Peak and Derbyshire Dales.

More than 70% of its income relies on the generosity of people who give donations, support its shops, participate in its events, leave gifts in wills and help in many other ways. Less than 30% of Ashgate Hospicecare’s overall income is NHS funded.