At St Wilfrid’s Hospice, our commitment is simple: we are here for everyone.

This week, as part of Pride Month, we shared information on our Social Media channels about how we are supporting the LGBTQ+ community as a hospice. While many people engaged positively, we also received a number of unacceptable and homophobic comments.

We feel it is important to address this openly.

Why this matters

As a hospice, we exist to provide compassionate care to anyone who needs us, including patients, families, staff and volunteers. Our commitment to FREDIE principles (Fairness, Respect, Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Engagement) underpins everything we do.

The comments we have seen are deeply disappointing, but sadly not entirely unexpected. They reflect broader challenges in society today. While these remarks were directed at the LGBTQ+ community, we know that similar attitudes can affect many minoritised groups.

The real impact of online behaviour

Negative voices on social media can have real and lasting consequences. Even when they come from a small number of individuals, their impact can be significant.

They can discourage people from seeking the care and support they need, make individuals feel unwelcome or unsafe, influence decisions about working or volunteering with us, and affect the wellbeing of families and communities.

This is something we take seriously.

Our position

We believe that everyone deserves dignity, compassion and high-quality care, regardless of who they are.

We are proud of our FREDIE commitment and our values. They are not symbolic, they  guide how we treat people, how we make decisions, and how we show up in our community.

We will continue to stand up for inclusion and respect, challenge behaviours that do not align with our values and create a safe and welcoming environment for all.

Looking ahead

Moments like this remind us why our values matter so much. They reinforce the importance of creating spaces, both online and offline, where people feel safe, respected and able to be themselves.

We remain committed to ensuring St Wilfrid’s Hospice is truly here for everyone.