To mark Pride Month, we’re sharing the voices of people at Ashgate who are helping to make our hospice a more inclusive and supportive place for everyone. Chrissie Neal, one of our Senior Healthcare Assistants, reflects on what Pride means to her, and why visibility and acceptance still matter.

My name’s Chrissie Neal and I’m a Senior Healthcare Assistant on the Inpatient Unit. I’ve been working in care for 34 years now, and for the last 16 of those, I’ve been lucky enough to be part of the Ashgate team.

I love what I do. I followed my heart into palliative care because I wanted to make a difference at the end of people’s lives, to help them feel safe, cared for and supported. Joining Ashgate felt like coming home, and I’m really proud to be part of everything the hospice stands for.

Pride, to me, is about accepting who you are, and supporting others to do the same. It’s about respect, visibility, and making sure no one feels like they have to hide part of themselves.

That’s something I feel strongly about, not just during Pride Month, but every day. I’ve always felt comfortable being myself at work, and I think Ashgate does a great job of supporting LGBT+ staff, volunteers and the people we care for. There’s a genuine commitment to inclusion here, not just in what we say, but in how we act.

Of course, it’s not always simple.  As a gay woman, I’ve always felt able to be myself around my colleagues. But it’s not always that simple. Sadly, there are times when I don’t feel comfortable being open with some patients because of how they might react or what they might believe.

For me, it’s not about hiding who I am, it’s about focusing entirely on the person I’m caring for and what they need at the end of their life. Still, I know this needs to change. And I hope that through the work we’re doing at Ashgate, there will come a time when I feel able to be fully myself with everyone I care for.

We’ve come a long way, but we can always do more to show the community that this is a place where everyone is welcome, respected and valued, regardless of who they are or who they love.

This Pride Month, we’re proud to stand with our LGBT+ colleagues, patients, volunteers and community. Because inclusion doesn’t happen by accident, it’s something we choose, every day.