From then to now: A changing hospice landscape
Hospice care has transformed from a place people go to die, to a lifeline of support helping people live well. Today, it means expert symptom management, emotional and spiritual care, and empowering people to make choices about how and where they are cared for. And at Keech, that care happens in our hospice, in homes, in schools—even in hospital bedsides when needed.
Dame Cicely once said, “You matter because you are you, and you matter to the end of your life.” It’s a belief that still guides our care, our culture and our community.
“Keech is full of light, laughter and life,” says Mark, Inclusive Health Palliative CNS at Keech. “People are often surprised—it’s not a place of sadness. It’s a place where people find comfort, connection, and often, joy. We’re here for the whole person, not just their condition.”
Making the difference in our community
Each year, we support thousands of children, adults, and their families across Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, and Milton Keynes. Last year alone, we helped prevent over 700 hospital admissions, saving the NHS more than £6.5 million and providing care where it matters most.
“We’re not just a hospice; we’re an embedded and essential part of our community” says Liz Searle, Keech’s CEO. “Our services are free, our care is specialist, and our people are extraordinary. We’re here to make every day count – for everyone who needs us.”
Why we remember
Remembering isn’t just about the past—it’s about inspiring the future. Every story, every smile, every tear shared at Keech is part of something bigger. As we continue to challenge misconceptions around hospice care and champion our community’s right to live well and die with dignity, we do so standing on the shoulders of pioneers like Dame Cicely.
So today, we remember. We remember those we’ve lost. We remember why we started. And we remember how much more there is to do.
Because at Keech, remembering is just the beginning of making every day count.