A Call to Peace

Words by Layla Blackwell Photos by Charlie Sherry

I sat looking over the beauty of the gardens before me. Tulips of every colour stand watch from the borders of the flowerbeds. On such a sunny day, it’s difficult not to feel grateful.

The inscription on the Statue of St Margaret reads: “I shall pass this way but once; any good that I can do or any kindness I can show to any human being; let me do it now, for I shall not pass this way again.” Those words are both a solemn truth of the journey of the patients that come here for end-of-life care and the ethos of those who work here.

I had come to interview the Chief Executive Officer of St Margaret's Hospice Clydebank, Sister Rita Dawson MBE. With a title like that I couldn’t help but feel nervous. It was clear even before I met her that she was a force to be reckoned with. Loved and deeply respected by patients and staff alike. I didn’t know what to expect.

The second Sister Rita entered the room, I felt her confident presence. She took her seat at the head of the table — a position I had no doubt she had earned. I was instantly intimidated, and it took me a moment to compose myself enough to look at her face. The colour of her eyes matched the blue of her uniform. Her gaze held experience and compassion equally. I clicked the button of my recorder.

“When I came here first there were just two wards — that was it.”

The original building of Saint Margaret's Hospice opened in 1950 and was the first hospice in Scotland. The current hospice building was opened on September 29, 1971 and was purpose-built for the needs of patients at that time. Since then, it has gone through several renovations including the addition of the second floor in 1993, which Sister Rita oversaw.

“That’s what I did, since I came, I put on the second floor. We had a lot of fundraising to do.”

The whole focus of the hospice is to create a homely and tranquil atmosphere, despite the clinical needs. It’s a very bright and welcoming space for relatives to enjoy quality time with their family without the pressure of providing care. The hospice has an on-site restaurant where you can enjoy some time admiring the gardens.

“The environment itself is very conducive to tranquillity, to peace, serenity. That’s what we try to make sure people experience,” Sister Rita added.

The hospice supports people from diagnosis onwards — both patients and families. Covid brought new challenges to this family-orientated environment, and to overcome the isolation for their residents they now use more technology to keep in contact with families.

Sister Rita continues to dedicate herself to ensuring residents enjoy the best quality of life possible and she is currently overseeing a new renovation to the building, projected to cost around £5 million.

“The demand [for services] is still growing. We have to redevelop the whole first floor again.”

Despite the increased need for the services provided by the hospice, government funding for charities has decreased while costs for things like National Insurance have increased, adding to the pressure on the hospice funds.

The new build will largely be raised by donations and community support.

“We have always relied on donations and people’s support to help us achieve what we’ve achieved so far,” Sister Rita explained. “We have created this type of environment so we can continue to support people in the most difficult and challenging time in their lives.”

The focus here is very much on life and the highest quality of the care for the community here — and it does feel like a community.

You can tell Sister Rita herself demands the highest of standards, but she does so with a clear compassion and drive. She has so much wisdom that makes her invaluable to residents, families, and staff.

“Health is the greatest gift of all, we take it for granted,” she continued. “Always be grateful for the day you’ve had and never presume that you’ll have tomorrow.

“Life is for living, we should be living it.

“And we should also be praying because the world is in a bad way at the moment.

“We can’t solve all the problems, but we can do something in our own little world. It’s about helping people at a crucial time in their lives.”

I asked what her advice would be to anyone wanting to make change and advocate for others. Her answer was simple and clear.

“Come to the Hospice and volunteer. The Hospice changes peoples’ lives.”

In addition to her care for the residents and the families, Sister Rita has a great drive to help young people overcome adversity and become their best self.

“I went into nursing because I wanted to help people. That passion and drive has never left me.”

My morning with Sister Rita and Saint Margaret's Hospice was a joy and has completely changed my perspective on the care they provide. They do so much more than I realised.

Services include a day centre, an education centre, a hydrotherapy pool, palliative care and care for elderly residents with complex needs. They provide vital support for patients and families from diagnosis onwards. They give hope at a time when it is needed the most.

If you want to support the work of Sister Rita and Saint Margaret’s Hospice, email fundraising@smh.org.uk or call 0141 435 7018. To find out more about the support available, call 0141 952 1141.

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