What It’s Really Like at Les Bourgs Hospice (And Why It Needs Our Support)

Most people in Guernsey have heard of Les Bourgs Hospice.  Many of us know someone who has been cared for there. But unless you’ve actually been, it’s easy to hold on to an idea of hospice care that doesn’t quite reflect the reality.

We recently visited, and spoke with Liz Stonebridge, Senior Fundraiser, to better understand the role of Les Bourgs in the Bailiwick. It completely reshaped our understanding - not only of what hospice care looks and feels like, but of the scale of support required to keep it running.

That’s why, here at The List, we launched our ‘Charity of the Year' initiative with Les Bourgs Hospice. To support their work in a meaningful and ongoing way, shining a light on the work it does for our community.

Here are just some of the reasons it matters so much - and why our support as a community is so important.

Image: Les Bourgs Hospice

“I think for some people the preconception of a hospice might be that they’re a bit dark and depressing, and I love that this space can really change that concept.” - Liz Stonebridge

 

1.  It Provides Specialist Care

Les Bourgs supports adults who require palliative care. Increasingly, patients have complex life-limiting conditions, requiring highly specialised, coordinated end-of-life care. As Liz explains:

“We’re seeing a greater complexity of need from our patients, which requires more specialist care from our nursing team”. 

What sets Les Bourgs apart is how that care is delivered - in a setting that feels personal and calm. It challenges the idea that clinical environments need to feel sterile or impersonal, especially at one of the most significant stages of life

 

2.  It Focuses On Quality Of Life

Walk through the doors and the sense of calm is immediate. Rooms are filled with natural light. Doors open onto the garden. Beds can be wheeled outside so patients can feel the sun and fresh air. Liz shares: 

“It’s a much more homely feel than a hospital setting…You can almost see people’s shoulders relax when they come in.” 

That environment matters. Not just for patients, but for families too. Because while medical care is essential, so is the experience around it. 

 

“It’s a privilege being able to support people, particularly at that end-of-life phase.” - Liz Stonebridge

 

3.  It Helps Make The Most of Time

Time at Les Bourgs has a different meaning. It is not necessarily about having more time, but about how that time is experienced. As Liz explains:

“It’s the importance of time… being able to spend time speaking with people, to explain their care pathway, to listen to their concerns.”

That means time to talk openly. Time to understand what is happening. Time to sit together without the pressures of a busy hospital ward. It also allows for small but meaningful moments, like a sharing a meal or marking a birthday, even in difficult circumstances.

 

4.  It Supports Families

Care extends beyond the patient. Families can stay close, with rooms adapted where needed. There are quiet spaces, areas for children, and support for conversations that can otherwise feel difficult to begin.

There are practical and emotional touches that help maintain connection - small keepsakes, shared moments and space to be together. After a loss, bereavement support is available, whether that’s immediately or further down the line:  

“It might be weeks, months or even a year later. Everyone’s grief journey is different.”

 

Image: Les Bourgs Hospice

5.  It Is A Vital Part Of Our Healthcare System

Les Bourgs plays a critical role in the island’s healthcare system. Working alongside GPs, palliative care, community nurses and hospital teams, it provides specialist palliative care that would otherwise fall to hospital or community services.

The team supports increasingly complex needs, including cancer and neurological conditions such as MND and multiple sclerosis. And that complexity is growing. Where patients may once have come in with one primary illness, the team is now seeing people with multiple conditions and higher levels of need. That means more specialist care, more staff time and more equipment. 

And, as a charity, this essential service relies entirely on the support of the local community. It is not currently funded by the States of Guernsey. 

 

6.  It Costs £2.8 Million A Year

The scale of what Les Bourgs provides is reflected in its costs. It needs around £2.8 million a year (approximately £8,000 a day) to run.

That covers staff, equipment, facilities and the infrastructure needed to provide safe, high-quality care. Some individual items highlight the reality behind that figure. Adjustable beds, for example, that allow loved ones to lie comfortably alongside patients cost in the region of £15,000 each. There are also specialist chairs, medical equipment and ongoing upgrades to ensure the environment supports both patients and staff safely. As Liz explains:

“We’re providing care 24 hours a day, 365 days a year… and that comes with a level of cost that people don’t always see.”

 

7.  It Supports Wellbeing

Les Bourgs also runs a wellbeing service, supporting people with life-limiting illness who are living independently at home. The 12-week programme offers social connection, access to the care team, education around things like nutrition and falls prevention, and therapies such as hand massage and reflexology.

Illness can become someone’s whole world, bringing isolation, appointments, medication and fear. Being with others who understand can make an enormous difference.

Liz shared how one person joined the wellbeing programme barely eating, but by the end of the 12 weeks they were enjoying full meals again. Sometimes care is clinical. Sometimes it is simply sitting and eating with someone who understands.

 

 

"We want to be here for future generations. Not just now.” - Liz Stonebridge

 

Ways To Support Les Bourgs

There are lots of ways to get involved and show your support, whether you choose to help individually or as part of a group or business. 

1.  Organised Events

Les Bourgs runs and benefits from a wide range of fundraising events throughout the year, including 30 Bays and Rock to Rocque. View the full list of events here. 

2.  Individual Contributions

There are many ways to support as an individual, from organising your own fundraiser to joining the Lottery Club. You can also make a donation or consider legacy giving.  

3.  Corporate Initiatives

Businesses can play a significant role through Charity of the Year partnerships and corporate fundraising initiatives. Liz also facilitates Lunch and Learn sessions to raise awareness and help bring the hospice’s work into wider conversation across the island. 

4.  Shopping & Donations

Les Bourgs shops are a key and stable  income stream for the charity. They offer a wide range of pre-loved items including clothing (including designer pieces), books, homeware and gifts. It’s a surprisingly high-quality shopping experience that also supports sustainability. Donate, or stop by for a browse - and prepare to be pleasantly surprised!

5.  Volunteering

With around 140 volunteers, Les Bourgs relies heavily on people giving their time, so they always welcome new enquiries. Roles range from shop support and reception to helping on the ward, assisting with events, and providing meals.

 

 

Why Our Support Matters

Les Bourgs Hospice is a place where people are supported to live as well as possible, where families are held through difficult moments, and where end-of-life care is delivered with both expertise and compassion.

And it is here because the community to supports it.

Find out more ways you can support Les Bourgs Hospice here.