Tribute paid as Foyle Hospice chairperson Angela McIntyre steps down

Foyle Hospice has paid warm tribute to its outgoing chairperson, Angela McIntyre MBE, as she steps down after more than four decades of service to hospice and specialist palliative care in the North West.

A founding member of Foyle Hospice, Angela has been involved since the very beginning, working closely with the late Dr Tom McGinley in the 1980s to turn his vision of a hospice for the city and wider region into a reality.

A fully qualified nurse, she played a key role in shaping the early plans for the building, the development of the nursing department and the model of care which has since supported thousands of patients and families.

Reflecting on those early days, Angela said: “When Tom first spoke about a hospice in Derry, it really was a dream. There was no road map, just a determination that people here deserved dignity, comfort and proper support at one of the most difficult times in their lives. From the start, it was about building something that felt like home, not a hospital ward.”

She recalls visiting the site during construction and realising that the proposed bathrooms were far too small for the real needs of patients and families.

“I remember bringing one of my children’s wheelchairs down to the building site and trying to turn it in the bathroom. There wasn’t enough space. That moment summed up what we were trying to do, if it didn’t work for real people and real families, it wasn’t good enough. From then on, we kept asking ourselves, ‘What would this feel like for the person using it?’”

Angela believes that focus on real lives has shaped the hospice ever since. “There are still misconceptions that a hospice is only a place you go to die,” she said. “Foyle Hospice is so much more than that. Yes, we care for people at the end of life, but we also support patients with pain and symptom management, offer day therapy and specialist support in people’s own homes, and provide bereavement care for families. It is a calm, welcoming place, bright, friendly and very human.”

Throughout her time as chairperson, Angela has consistently highlighted the contribution of staff and volunteers across all parts of the organisation.

“The staff here are absolutely wonderful, every one of them,” she said. “You never hear them complain. They go the extra mile in ways that people may never see, from the nurses and doctors, to the cooks finding out a patient’s favourite meal. We have so many volunteers who give their time in our shops, offering therapies, tending to the extensive grounds and at events. Their kindness and professionalism are at the heart of everything.”

Angela also paid tribute to the generosity of the community across Derry, the wider North West and Donegal.

“I will never forget opening the collection boxes from our first ever fundraising event and finding £10 and £20 notes folded inside, a fortune at that time. People trusted us to use that money well. Forty years on, in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis, they are still turning up, still donating, still fundraising. We see families who live, work and have connections on both sides of the border. The hospice belongs to all of them, and I am incredibly grateful for their support.”

Her reflections come as the Northern Ireland Assembly’s Health Committee published its report on specialist palliative and end-of-life care, highlighting the pressures facing hospices and specialist services. Looking to the future, Angela is clear that investment must keep pace with need.

“24-hour specialist palliative care is expensive, and demand is only going in one direction,” she said. “If we want families in this region to have the dignity and support, they deserve, we will need more commitment to funding and, in time, an increased number of beds and facilities that continue to meet expectations. Foyle Hospice has always tried to stay one step ahead, but we cannot do it on community generosity alone. Sustainable support from government is essential.

“As we look to the next ten years, I would love to see Foyle Hospice grow in a way that keeps that ‘home from home’ feeling while expanding what we can offer – more inpatient capacity, strong day therapy, community services and continued investment in staff training and development to enhance specialist skills. Innovation and learning have always been part of our story, and they will be just as important in the years ahead.”

Paying tribute to the outgoing chairperson, Chief Executive Donall Henderson said: “Angela’s contribution to Foyle Hospice simply cannot be overstated. From standing on a muddy site with Dr McGinley and the original steering group, to chairing the Board through some of the most challenging years the health and social care system has ever seen, she has been a constant source of wisdom, compassion and determination. She always brings every discussion back to finding a solution with one simple question: ‘What is best for patients and families?’ That really has set the tone for all of us and will be a lasting legacy.”

“Angela embodies the values of Foyle Hospice, dignity, compassion, community and a relentless focus on quality. On behalf of the Board of Trustees, staff, volunteers and the many patients and families we serve, I want to thank Angela most sincerely for her leadership and her lifelong commitment to hospice care. We are honoured to carry forward the legacy that she, alongside Dr McGinley and so many others helped to build.”