We would like to share Alan Hyslop’s story with you. His family share their experience of the care he received after he was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease. Alan received care at home and in the Ayrshire Hospice In-Patient Unit, and his family were supported throughout that time and in the years after his death in 2016.

Alan’s story is a reminder of the impact of specialist palliative and end of life care for the whole family and the difference that makes in the moment and for years to come.

Read the family’s full story on our Spring Appeal

The post The Hyslop Family Story appeared first on Ayrshire Hospice.

In this issue, we reflect on a milestone year for the Ayrshire Hospice, share inspiring patient and family stories, celebrate the incredible support of our community, and look ahead to the events and initiatives shaping the year ahead.

The post The Article – Issue 41 – March 2026 appeared first on Ayrshire Hospice.

It is with great sadness I share the news of the sudden death of a former and highly regarded colleague of the Ayrshire Hospice. Margaret Cassidy died on 20^th February at Crosshouse hospital with her close family by her side.

Margaret had a long and distinguished career in the nursing profession. In 1980 she moved from her home town of Ayr at the tender age of 17 to Glasgow to commence her general nurse training at Stobhill Hospital. Her first Staff Nurse posts were in renal medicine and as part of a diabetic team.  She qualified as a Registered Midwife, working in Glasgow before commencing her District Nurse training where her love for caring for patients in their own home became the focus of her nursing career.

As a qualified District Nursing Sister Margaret worked in the Ayrshire town of Dalmellington and surrounding villages. Sister Cassidy was a “Well kent face” a highly regarded member of the community. A special time which she remembered with great fondness. Further study and the successful completion of a postgraduate certificate in palliative led her to the Ayrshire Hospice.

She began at the Ayrshire Hospice as a member of the Specialist Palliative Care team (SPCN) in 1999, caring for patients and their families in their own homes across Ayrshire. A kind, caring and knowledgeable nurse who was held in the utmost regard by patients, carers and partnering professionals in the community.

Her leadership skills shone through when she became SPCN team leader, expanding further when teams merged and she became the Manager of Community and Day Services. She led the team on the redesign and review of how community and day services were delivered. This included a redesign of the day services environment to ensure it offered a modern, welcoming space conducive to individualised, person centred care.

She led an inspired new project on referral allocation by introducing triage, aiming to ensure that patients were seen promptly by the most appropriate member of the hospice team. This was a truly innovative development at the time, and this project was presented at many conferences where other hospices were able to learn from this dynamic and innovative new approach. She was also an active member of the Day Services Organisation for specialist palliative care professionals helping to coordinate and organise day services conferences across the UK. 

Margaret took early retirement early in 2019 after a 20 year career at the Ayrshire Hospice. She influenced, supported and motivated many nurses throughout her career. As the sad news of her death has been shared tributes from colleagues have been many.  A calm, kind and experienced nurse, she had a gift for truly listening and guiding. Her wise counsel has been recounted by many.  The clip clopping of her heels as she hurried along the corridor is remembered with great fondness.

Patients and their families remained at the heart of everything that Margaret did throughout her career, she was passionate about making today matter for every person that crossed her path. A true professional, many colleagues have said the most professional nurse they have ever had the pleasure to work alongside. 

Our thoughts are with her family Peter, Kim, Evan and Leon. A shining beacon of light, beautiful inside and out, taken too soon.

Good bye our dear friend.   

Margaret’s funeral will take place on Friday 13th March at 1:30pm in Holmsford Bridge Crematorium, Dreghorn, followed by tea at Highgrove House Hotel, Troon

The post Passing of a former colleague appeared first on Ayrshire Hospice.

Dr Laura McCusker is a GP based in Ayr with a specialist interest in palliative care. She trained in Scotland before gaining international experience in Emergency Medicine and Palliative Care in Melbourne, Australia. Laura is a GP Partner at Cathcart Street Practice and currently holds the role of NHS Ayrshire & Arran Primary Care Lead for Cancer and Palliative Care. She has previously worked within the Ayrshire Hospice and brings valuable insight into hospice, primary, and community-based care.

Dalene Steele is Associate Nurse Director for NHS Ayrshire & Arran and Lead Nurse for the East Ayrshire Integrated Joint Board. With a nursing career spanning more than three decades, Dalene provides strategic leadership across community nursing services and has led significant transformational work to strengthen models of care. She is deeply committed to multidisciplinary working and improving experiences for people at the end of life.

Professor Tom Steele, Chair of the Ayrshire Hospice Board, said: “Laura and Dalene bring a depth of knowledge from frontline practice and system leadership that will add real value to an already skilled and committed Board. We are extremely grateful for their willingness to give their time and expertise in support of the Hospice.”

Tracy Flynn, CEO of the Ayrshire Hospice, added: “We are delighted to welcome Laura and Dalene to the Ayrshire Hospice Board. Their combined clinical expertise, leadership experience, and passion for palliative and end of life care will be invaluable as we continue to develop and strengthen our services for people across Ayrshire and Arran.

“Alongside the strong range of skills and experience already represented on the Board, their current clinical insight will help ensure that the decisions we make at a strategic level are firmly grounded in the needs of patients, families, and the professionals who care for them.” The Ayrshire Hospice relies on the dedication of volunteers and Board Members to help guide its strategic direction and ensure the continued delivery of specialist care for people affected by life-shortening illness across Ayrshire and Arran.

The post Ayrshire Hospice welcomes new Trustees appeared first on Ayrshire Hospice.

Following a full survey of both shops, it was identified that the best solution was to install Mitsubishi air source heat pumps, as these systems are highly efficient and economical to run. The Ayr shop required four systems, while the Troon shop required five systems.

Ayrshire Refrigeration carried out this work completely free of Labour charges, including the installation of all equipment, pipework, and electrical connections. In addition, they were able to secure a discount on the equipment and materials from the Beijer Ref Group, to further increase savings for the Ayrshire Hospice.

The post Thank you Ayrshire Refrigeration appeared first on Ayrshire Hospice.

Following on from our new website, www.ayrshirehospice.org, our online shop has been given a new look for 2025 and we’re delighted with how it looks!

The online shop stocks are fabulous Christmas cards, diaries, notebooks and calendars, just in time for the Festive season. You’ll also be able to purchase specialised Christmas baubles for your or a friend or family member’s tree.

More items will be added to the online shop in the new year, including our Gargowan Gin, as we bring new and exciting goods to buy and support the Ayrshire Hospice.

Visit the shop today

The post Ayrshire Hospice launches new online shop appeared first on Ayrshire Hospice.

Both mother and daughter, Zoe and Natasha McNicol, experienced the care of the Ayrshire Hospice after receiving life-shortening diagnoses. Zoe had a short respite stay before she died in hospital in 1997, while many years later Natasha was cared for at home by Specialist Palliative Care Nurse, Mandy, until her death in August 2024. 

Deeply moved by the care and support their mum received, Natasha and her family – her sister, two brothers and their dad – became committed fundraisers for the Hospice, raising more than £35,000 since 1997. 

Well known and much loved throughout West Kilbride and beyond, Natasha helped shape the lives of many children through her work in early years childcare alongside her mum. She was a generous, compassionate woman, loved by everyone who spent time with her. 

Here, her sister Rebecca Garman, shares their family’s story with the Ayrshire Hospice. 

Read the story

Our Light Up a Life appeal invites you to dedicate a virtual star in memory of someone special and see it shine on our digital Christmas tree, alongside the stars of others in our community.

Donate to the appeal and dedicate a star

The post Light up a Life Appeal – the story of Natasha McNicol appeared first on Ayrshire Hospice.

Thanks to an incredibly generous donation, we will be producing a series of short videos with information, help and guides to cope at home with a loved one who has a life shortening illness.

What we need from you?

Your experiences. To share what was difficult, the information you would have liked to have had that might have helped you or your loved one? With this feedback we will produce a series of short videos which will available for everyone to access.

Focus Groups will be held at the Ayrshire Hospice:

Monday 10th November at 2pm

Tuesday 11th November at 5:30pm

If you would be interested in the opportunity to help others in a similar situation, please

click here https://bit.ly/43hYMH5 to complete a quick form and we’ll be in touch soon.

The post Help us, help others appeared first on Ayrshire Hospice.

The corporate partnership will allow for patient and families to attend a Kilmarnock home match, as well as the opportunity for a child of a patient family to be a mascot and lead the team out.

The Ayrshire Hospice has recently returned to Racecourse Road in Ayr after completing a transformational redevelopment project costing in excess of £18 million. The new 12-bed facility offer patients and their families a beautiful, comfortable and safe space to come together while they are cared and supported for by staff.

Men’s First Team captain, Brad Lyon, and Vice-captain, Robbie Deas, visited the Hospice on Tuesday 30^th September to mark the partnership between both organisations, which started in August.

The players were given a tour of the hospice from Ayrshire Hospice Chief Executive, Tracy Flynn, before chatting with staff, patients and their families.

Shalane Breen, Ayrshire Hospice Senior Fundraising Manager, said: “We’re delighted to be working with Kilmarnock Football Club over the coming season. This partnership gives us the opportunity to provide our patients with experiences to enjoy with their families while in our care.

Gregg McEwan, General Manager of Kilmarnock FC, added: “It’s great to have Ayrshire Hospice join our Charity Partner family as they look to settle back into their roots in the newly refurbished facility.  

“The Hospice provide a great service, and I know over the years we have collaborated many times to assist fans who have been in their care. We look forward to working with them over the upcoming season.”

The Ayrshire Hospice provides excellence in palliative and end of life care for patients and their families across Ayrshire and Arran.

You can find out more on how the Ayrshire Hospice can support you or ways to support them by visiting www.ayrshirehospice.org for more information.

The post Ayrshire Hospice kick off partnership with Kilmarnock FC appeared first on Ayrshire Hospice.

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