A Frank assessment of St Christopher's

Three years after being referred to St Christopher’s, and having accessed a diverse range of its services, Frank Tate-Sutton now has a completely different impression of the hospice to the one she had prior to walking through its doors for the very first time.

In fact, along with some key changes to her way of life, Frank, 54, from East Dulwich, says she has St Christopher’s to thank for being able to enjoy a third birthday and Christmas since her diagnosed with Stage 4 liver disease in 2022.

“A lot of my longevity is down to changing my lifestyle, but everything about this place (she’s sitting in the hospice’s Garden Cafe), the support, understanding and absence of stigma has played a massive part in it too,” she adds.

Frank by name, frank by nature – she says it herself. In fact, Frank changed her name by deed poll. Now only her mother calls her Ann-Margaret, and even that’s only when she’s done something wrong.

That frankness is evident when Frank says drinking has been a major factor in her illness. The illness forced her retirement on grounds of ill health after a fulfilling career spent working in serious incidents for a number of health organisations in south London.

She’s equally plain about what she thought of St Christopher’s prior to that referral in 2022.

“I knew about the hospice both because it’s the chosen charity of my husband’s golf club, Dulwich and Sydenham, and I used to travel past it on the bus too. I just assumed it was somewhere people went to die.”

It didn’t take long for Frank to discover St Christopher’s had much more to offer her.

“Initially, I came to meet a nurse and was amazed when I walked in. The nurse reassured me about what was going to happen and then I started to find out that St Christopher’s is a community provider too. And before I knew it, I was getting my nails done and having massages!”

Frank ‘adores’ her group physiotherapy sessions with David for the mental and physical benefits they bring – improving her faltering balance and educating her about how to look after her body and meeting other patients.

“That first meeting was so important. I knew physically what was wrong, but I had so many other questions and over the first month I learned so much about what this place does and how it could support me.”

Now diagnosed with bladder cancer and diabetes, Frank has also really appreciated the support of a dietician at the hospice. One-to-one art therapy has provided Frank with a further source of support and enrichment.

“As well as learning felting, which I now do at home too, I didn’t feel shy talking about anything – good and bad. One time I was so tired and Nicole the art therapist noticed me fall asleep on her and she just covered me in a blanket for the rest of the session. It was such an amazing act of understanding and kindness.”

“As well as learning felting, which I now do at home too, I didn’t feel shy talking about anything – good and bad.”

What with regular appointments with St Christopher’s clinical team as well as the help of a social worker, barely a week goes by when Frank doesn’t make the trip to Sydenham – driven by her husband, Justin.

When in conversation with Mandy, another art therapist, Frank mentioned she’d never been happy with her original wedding dress, Mandy suggested the couple could renew their vows at the hospice.

“We met with Andrew the chaplain who was wonderful, and the day itself was brilliant.

St Christopher’s really couldn’t have done any more to make it special.“

The regular engagement with and attention to her many and different needs, mean Frank has built great trust in and affection for St Christopher’s, its staff and volunteers.

“I hadn’t been for a couple of weeks before today, so I woke up early full of excitement.

“I just love coming here because it has a good effect on me. It’s even helped me get my sense of humour back. The food is great, the volunteers are fabulous and the whole place is brilliant. It does me good physically and mentally.”

“Having support with everything I have to deal means I just couldn’t live without St Christopher’s.”

Recently, when the opportunity arose for Frank to speak to Sky News and The Sunday Times about the importance of funding for hospices, she says she enjoyed the opportunity to reflect on the care and support she’s received.

Frank’s convinced that the care and support she’s received, mostly at the hospice, will continue when and for as long as she needs it at home, with Justin, her beloved cat Beau and their two spaniels; Arthur and Merlin.

For a dedicated animal lover like Frank, St Christopher’s cats, past and present – Colin and Toby – have provided an extra, unexpected boost.

“I know St Christopher’s will do absolutely everything for me, and I trust them entirely with the end of my life – although I will still be telling them what to do.”