Garden House Hospice Care in Letchworth Garden City was delighted to welcome former BBC EastEnders star Natalie Cassidy, who visited the Hospice as part of the BBC's 'Natalie Cassidy: Caring Matters' programming. During her visit, Natalie spent time training alongside the Hospice's dedicated team and attended The Wildflowers & Remembrance Afternoon, one of the charity's annual remembrance events.

Natalie Cassidy is appearing in 'Natalie Cassidy: Caring Together', a new BBC One and BBC iPlayer series that follows her journey as she trains to become a carer. As part of her wider care qualification at North Hertfordshire College, she visited Garden House Hospice Care's Inpatient Unit, spent time with the Emotional & Psychological Support Service and learned more about the compassionate support provided to local patients and families. She also joined staff and volunteers at their annual Wildflowers event, where families and friends of former patients come together to remember and celebrate their loved ones by planting a flower in the Hospice's gardens.

Lisa Hunt, Chief Executive Officer at Garden House Hospice, shared: "It was a real privilege to welcome Natalie to Garden House Hospice and to share something of the compassion, skill, and dedication our teams bring to their work every day. Her visit helped shine a light not only on the importance of caring, but also on the vital role hospices play in supporting patients and families through some of life's most challenging moments."

From our own experience, and from the heartfelt thank-you messages we receive every week; we know the extraordinary difference our nurses, carers and volunteers make at the most difficult times in people's lives. Whether it is easing pain and discomfort, sharing a smile or a much-needed cup of tea, or creating precious moments with loved ones, these acts of care and kindness mean everything to the people we support.

Garden House Hospice Care provides essential care for people living with life-limiting or advancing illnesses, as well as those approaching the end of life, across North Hertfordshire and surrounding communities. The Hospice offers welcoming, personalised care in compassionate surroundings, supported by highly skilled nurses, carers, and volunteers.

Alongside end-of-life care, the Hospice also helps to ease pressure on NHS beds and services through in-reach support for people with advancing illness, as well as Rehabilitation and Wellbeing services that help people live well and independently for longer. Emotional and Psychological Support services also support families through difficult moments.

Garden House Hospice Care is delighted to have been able to support Natalie with her training and to be featured in Natalie Cassidy: Caring Together with the opportunity to raise awareness of hospice care and the people behind it.

Like hospices across the UK, Garden House Hospice Care faces significant funding pressures. Founded by the local North Hertfordshire community to care for local people, the Hospice continues to provide its services free of charge, with no means testing, and remains committed to being there for everyone who needs its support.

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It will cost Garden House Hospice Care £6.5 million this year to provide its care and with only a portion funded by the Government, every donation makes a difference to local families. The Hospice needs to raise £2.7 million in charitable income this year alone. There are many ways for local people to support, from donating and fundraising to volunteering, attending events, or visiting the Hospice's high street stores. For more information, please visit the Garden House Hospice Care website: www.ghhospicecare.org.uk.

Episodes 1-4 of Natalie Cassidy: Caring Together are now available to watch BBC iPlayer. Episodes 5-8 will be available to watch on iPlayer from 1st June, with Garden House Hospice Care featured in the series finale: www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/m002wm9g/natalie-cassidy-caring-together.