Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal was given a warm welcome when she visited Strathcarron Hospice on Friday (20 June).

The Princess Royal - a familiar face at the Hospice - met with CEO of the Hospice Mags McCarthy, Stirling and Falkirk Lord Lieutenant Colonel Charles Wallace, Deputy Lieutenant of Stirling and Falkirk and Trustee of Strathcarron Hospice Mrs Baljit Dhillon, Falkirk Council Provost Robert Bissett, Police Scotland Local Police Commander of Forth Valley Division Superintendent Roddy Irvine and Chair of the Hospice Council of Management Chris Rodger

Her Royal Highness then toured the Hospice spending time chatting with staff, volunteers, supporters and patients on the ward.

In Strathcarron's 44-year history HRH The Princess Royal has visited the Hospice 38 times since her first visit in 1982.

During the visit The Princess Royal spoke with the Hospice Specialist Lymphoedema team about their wide ranging work and also to someone who has recently benefitted from this life changing service.

Strathcarron Hospice Lymphoedema Team 

Hospice CEO Mags McCarthy, said: “We are delighted to welcome Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal for her annual visit. There has been a great buzz about the place as we eagerly anticipated her arrival and we are very grateful for the time she devotes to staff, volunteers, supporters, patients and families.

“The Princess Royal met individual patients in our Inpatient Unit in private and each patient will receive a photograph of their meeting with her.  We know that these become cherished family mementos of a lovely day.

“We are grateful for the devotion Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal has shown the Hospice over the years. It has been much appreciated.”

Her Royal Highness was introduced to individuals and representatives of organisations who have supported the Hospice throughout the past year. This included:

Hospice Volunteers:

Bill & Jane Conway

Lynn Hunter

Phyllis Hall

Ronnie Bergen - Can Collector

Fundraising Supporters:

Joanna McCulloch and Andrew Baxter Central FM

Molly Parsons, MBE and Fiona Downs, Strathcarron Singers

Tony Harris, Wellsfield Fishery

Colin Thomson and Rhea Fairclough, XPS Pension Firm, Stirling

 

Chief Officers IJB’s:

Ross McGuffie, Chief Executive, NHS Forth Valley

Joanna MacDonald, Interim Chief Officer/ Director, Clackmannanshire & Stirling IJB

 

Good Grief Bereavement Support Group:

Christina Hopkins

Christine McCrindle

Moira Aherne

Helen Dall

Alexandra Prested

 

 

HRH also met with members of the Council of Management:

Mrs Nicola Rae

Mr Paul Hinds

Mrs Julie McVicar

Mrs Margaret McMullan

Care and services right across our communities and within the 24 bedded ward in the Hospice are provided by 243 staff with support from hundreds of volunteers who contributed over 100,000 hours of volunteering during 2023-24.

The largest independent Hospice in Scotland, Strathcarron provides essential services for patients with life-limiting conditions (including end-of-life care) for patients living in Forth Valley and Cumbernauld and Kilsyth in North Lanarkshire.

In 2024-25 the Hospice provided care for 331 patients in our 24 patient bedded unit and also supported 1802 new patients at home including care from our Community Nurse Specialists, Hospice at Home, Live Your Life, Rehabilitation and Bereavement Teams.

The Hospice has to raise £19,452 daily to provide the specialist end of life care and services to individuals and their families across its communities.

Read more Strathcarron Hospice News