Passionate speech from celebrity guest

The former Nine O’Clock News presenter toured the building and chatted to patients and staff, before speaking movingly and eloquently about dementia to an audience of nearly 100 people.

In her 45-minute speech, Angela discussed her mother Edna’s dementia diagnosis and how her experience of the disease led her to become an ambassador for the Alzheimer’s Society.

Angela is passionate about reducing the stigma of dementia across our society and inspiring a dementia-friendly generation to get involved and change attitudes.

The Hospice of St Francis, which supports more than 2,000 people a year living with a life-limiting illness, and needs to raise over £5 million annually, is investing to ensure it is equipped to meet the needs of terminally ill patients who also have dementia.

The hospice has a dementia nurse who is working with local care homes to share best practice and is making its inpatient unit more visually dementia friendly.

CEO Steve Jamieson said: “It was an absolute pleasure to welcome Angela to our hospice last week. Not only did she brighten up the lives of many of our patients and staff with her charming smile, but she was inspirational in opening eyes to the issues faced by people with dementia in their daily life.

“I am passionate about making the Hospice of St Francis a dementia-friendly community.”