Skanda Vale Hospice is supporting this year’s Hospice Care Week theme — Don’t leave hospice care to chance — because families depend on timely, compassionate hospice support at some of the most difficult moments of their lives.

The hospice in Saron near Llandysul sees every day how high‑quality services shape how families cope, and this Hospice Care Week (Oct 5 -11) staff emphasise that this vital care must be recognised as a fundamental part of Wales’ health and care system.

Skanda Vale Hospice provides support to people across Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire and beyond, and continues to show how hospice care can bring joy, meaning and connection even in the most challenging times.

Their patient outings, from meeting the elephants at the Skanda Vale monastery to afternoons on local beaches, demonstrate that hospice care is about living fully, not just preparing for the end.

These moments offer families calm, togetherness and the chance to make memories that bring comfort long after an outing, showing the value of hospice support delivered in the community.

Lead Nurse Kiera Jones said: “We only get one opportunity to get end‑of‑life care right. When it’s done well, it shapes how families grieve and remember. Hospice care should never be seen as an add‑on or optional extra. It is a fundamental part of our healthcare system, and families rely on it.”

Although not yet open 24/7, Skanda Vale Hospice, which was founded in in 1994, provides essential day and residential respite in a setting predominantly run by volunteers.

Sometimes patients arrive with a preconception of what a hospice might be like and are pleasantly surprised to find that it is light, friendly and full of laughter.

Carer Julie Wilson said: “It’s not a sad place; the whole hospice embraces you. It’s held together by teamwork and talented individuals who genuinely care.”

Kiera added: “What our patients don’t always realise is the impact they have on us too, the joy they bring, and the privilege we feel being part of their journey.”

“Skanda Vale’s approach shows clearly why hospice care cannot be left to chance. It provides essential, life‑enhancing support that helps families find stability, dignity and moments of joy when they need them most.”

Matt Brindley, Policy and Advocacy Manager for Wales at Hospice UK, said: “Every story shared this week shows the extraordinary value and impact of hospice care in Wales.

“Everyone deserves high‑quality hospice care, whoever they are and wherever they live, and compassionate care in the community is at the heart of everything we do.

“Welsh hospices support individuals and their families with expert palliative and end‑of‑life care, financial and emotional support, complementary therapies, bereavement care and vital respite.

“Increasing demand and rising costs are putting this care at risk. We cannot leave something this important to chance. Wales needs fair and stable funding for hospice care now.”