Heart of the Matter
Heart of the Matter with St Christopher’s Hospice
Photography & Art Direction
““The whole experience of St Christopher’s has been positive. They really keep their word and I always look forward to seeing them. The best part was the personal touch, because it makes you feel important. They really helped support my family too.’’”
Bringing Patient Stories to Life at St Christopher’s Hospice
I approached St Christopher’s Hospice with the idea of creating a photography exhibition that would visually represent the incredible care they provide. The goal was to support a new pilot study by bringing patient stories to life, making the research more engaging and patient-focused. To achieve this, I interviewed and photographed patients, curating an exhibition to coincide with one of the hospice’s talk days.
To bring this idea to fruition, I arranged a meeting with Heather Richardson, Joint Chief Executive of St Christopher’s Hospice, to pitch the concept. The aim was to create a body of work that would ensure patients were represented not just as data but as individuals with personal stories. To gain deeper insight, I spent a day shadowing a palliative care nurse, photographing and interviewing six patients about their experiences and the impact St Christopher’s had on their lives.
The final exhibition was displayed in the lobby outside the lecture theatre, providing a powerful visual narrative to accompany the research. The response was overwhelmingly positive, with visitors and hospice staff alike appreciating the way the images brought the patients’ experiences to the forefront. As a lasting testament to their stories, the photographs are now on permanent display in St Christopher’s new building.
This project reinforced my belief in the power of storytelling to give patients a voice and bring greater humanity to healthcare narratives. It remains a career highlight and a testament to the importance of ethical, patient-centered content creation.
