'˜Clear vision' of Keech boss

Liz Searle, who joined as clinical director in 2012 and has been acting CEO since September last year, said: “I am committed to providing individualised end-of-life care as determined by our patients and their families.

“We must continue to understand their needs, preferences and wishes so we can carry on developing services tailored to them.

“We must extend our reach to ensure everyone has equal and early access to our services be it in their own home, in hospital, at school or at the hospice itself.

“Keech Hospice Care belongs to the community and we need to embrace it, cherish it and help it flourish.”

She added: “We are still a death-denying society so we must help change attitudes if we are going to help patients and families plan better.

“The opportunity to take a great organisation onwards and upwards is fantastic.”

With more than 35 years’ experience in the care sector, Liz has been director of education at Macmillan Cancer Support and head of palliative care at Sue Ryder Care where she managed six hospices.