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The Director of Nursing who has led Les Bourgs Hospice for nearly 20 years is entering her final weeks of service to the island's only dedicated facility for terminally ill patients and their families.
This week, retirement drinks were held for Jo Boyd MBE at Government House where the Lieutenant Governor and invited guests wished her well for her future.
A very well-earned #thankyou to #Hospice Director of @LesBourgsHospic, Jo Boyd MBE, on her impending retirement! Her tireless contribution since 2006 has ensured that #Guernsey has a world class Hospice and has touched the lives of countless local families https://t.co/EMs3gqzVbW pic.twitter.com/WUKtRjxlhr
— Gov House Guernsey (@GvHouseGuernsey) November 23, 2023
The hospice itself opened in 1991, with Maura Stacey the first Director of Nursing working closely with the founders of Les Bourgs Hospice, Greville and Lisa Mitchell, during those early years.
Having joined the hospice in 2006, Mrs Boyd has been a part of its story for almost half of its entire lifetime to date.
Mrs Boyd's time at the helm of Les Bourgs has included its multi-million pound redevelopment and expansion, and the appointment of the then-Prince of Wales as its Patron.
The new Les Bourgs Hospice opened in 2012, and since then, Mrs Boyd has led her staff through other challenges including the covid pandemic and further refurbishment work at Andrew Mitchell House.
Ahead of her retirement drinks on Thursday, Mrs Boyd said her work at Les Bourgs helped her feel fully settled in the island community when she moved here, having previously worked at hospices in the UK.
Pictured: Some of the nursing staff who are at the core of what Les Bourgs Hospice does.
“I came because the hospice was looking for someone with a nursing background but who could help project manage the new build," she remembered.
"I have been a nurse since I was 17 but found quite quickly that Guernsey was very different from Kent as there are all the unique challenges of living on a small island. This makes you more self-reliant.
“This has undoubtedly been the best time of my career. Arriving to play my part in the new build 17 years ago and seeing the wonderful operation we have now is extremely fulfilling. It’s a real cherry on the top of my career. I’m incredibly proud of the team we have who continue to give everything for the cause.”
Les Bourgs Hospice is well supported by the community, which Mrs Boyd said is a sign of how well appreciated it is.
“The hospice has been here for over 30 years and is loved by islanders. This brings with it a genuine responsibility for us to keep standards extremely high and respond to what the public wants. The people of the Bailiwick have been very loyal and supportive of us and the facilities that we have.
“I heard a wonderful compliment in a taxi one day. The driver referred to ‘our hospice’ which was such a lovely thing to say. It’s true as it really does belong to islanders.”
With no financial support from the States, Les Bourgs Hospice is run entirely on charitable donations.
The rebuild which Mrs Boyd project managed cost more than £4million and she said the financial pressure remains acute at all times.
“We also value our independence and thanks to the people of Guernsey we can stand on our own two feet. That is important to us but there could be ways we could work together with the States such as the mutual funding of staff.
"We shall see,” she added.
“I have no doubt that islanders will do the best they possibly can, but fundraising is getting harder. We have staff, volunteers and supporters with great commitment, imagination and enthusiasm who don’t think twice about going the extra mile and we’re always looking for new ways to inspire the public to get involved in events that we believe are inclusive.”
Mrs Boyd will retire in December, with Rob Jones starting work as CEO in the new year.
She says that next year she hopes to spend some time enjoying her personal pastimes.
“Well, I’m looking forward to being bored, something I’ve never experienced. We also want to travel, and I want to do more cooking and reading, and I definitely want to get a dog so I’m sure that will involve plenty of walking. I won’t let the grass grow under my feet that is for sure.
“But it’s time to move on."
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