The excellent reputation of St John’s meant that in 2005 Medical Students from Liverpool were hosted and this continued as the Medical School at Lancaster evolved. St John’s still hosts nursing, medical, paramedical and social workers today from a number of universities.   

Day Clinics for patients with life shortening illnesses were growing thanks to the opening of the Oak Centre such as a Motor Neurone Disease clinic in 2009.  

The Gold Standards Framework, which is still used across the health system was introduced. The contentious Liverpool Care Pathway also came into being, to be disbanded in 2012. 

Whilst relying on the kindness of the community with fundraising events, donations and legacies left in Wills, the shape of the Hospice’s fundraising needed to change to meet increasing demand for palliative and end of life care. Local hospices such as St John’s worked with the national umbrella organisation; ‘Help the Hospices’, to try and secure regular funding to make its future more secure. This relationship was vital as on a number of one-off occasions when funding was secured by Help the Hospices from the Government. St John’s was very grateful for this, whilst hoping and waiting for an agreed regular revenue funding settlement from the Government.  

2009 saw a dip in income and there were real concerns of a significant deficit, which would undoubtedly have an impact on patient care. It was agreed to develop a staffed fundraising team. This was also the time of the first Moonlight Walks – an opportunity for people to walk together in memory of those who had died or were very poorly. The walks became very popular and still take place today!