Hospice Care Week: Gerry’s Story

This year’s Hospice Care Week (5 – 11 October 2026) theme – Don’t leave hospice care to chance – is a reminder that while everyone deserves access to compassionate care and support right to the end, hospices are underfunded and under more pressure than ever.

Throughout the week, we’re sharing stories from across St Mary’s and introducing you to some of the people who make a difference – the people who don’t leave hospice care to chance.

Gerry has been a GP in Ulverston since 1985 and became a St Mary’s Trustee in 2025. Our Trustees provide oversight and governance for the hospice, helping to ensure St Mary’s is well run, financially sustainable and able to deliver the care our community needs now and in the future.

Gerry’s connection to St Mary’s is deeply personal, as his late wife was cared for at the hospice before she died in 1996.

“That time she was in the hospice was so important to us,” said Gerry. “She was looked after so well that we could just focus on being us and having precious time together. Our three small children were also very well cared for by the staff and nurses.”

Gerry has also seen the impact of St Mary’s through his work as a GP.

“I’ve visited patients in the hospice many times over the years and I’ve witnessed the exceptional care from this angle, too,” he said.

Gerry is a prolific fundraiser, having completed the Fred Whitton Challenge an incredible 16 times, raising money for St Mary’s along the way. In 2025, his contribution to the local community was recognised when he received the Heart of Ulverston Lifetime Achievement Award.

“The hospice has always been close to my heart and I’ve always done what I can to raise funds for and promote it,” Gerry said. “I’m so proud to now be a Trustee. The challenge is to try and find ways to contribute most effectively; I’m constantly asking, ‘What can I do better and how can I do more?’

“The Board is made up of great people with different backgrounds and skills. The management team is also superb, always making sure the Board has the information we need to make informed decisions.”

As a Trustee, Gerry is part of the team helping St Mary’s look ahead, make decisions and plan for the future. His role is to support the hospice’s ability to provide care and support to local people, making sure hospice care is there when it’s needed rather than leaving it to chance.