Meet Lesley Fellows – Our Director of Care & Family Services

When Lesley Fellows joined Claire House in 2003, she brought a passion for community nursing and a belief families deserve choice in children's care.

More than 20 years later, that same passion is driving her in her role as Director of Care and Family Services, at one of the most exciting moments in our hospice’s history.

“I’ve always cared about developing a service that reflects what families need,” Lesley says. “We’ve spent two decades becoming a specialist palliative care organisation, and I wanted to help keep us on that path.”

Lesley has already shaped Claire House in extraordinary ways. In 2007, she founded what was then Hospice to Home – a service she delivered single‑handedly, built on the belief care should be brought closer to families.

Today, there’s a multidisciplinary team providing homebased respite, specialist palliative and end-of-life care, and wellbeing support across the region.

She also led the development of our intensive care partnership work, breaking down barriers between intensive and palliative care. That collaboration, sparked by a chance chat with a doctor beside a cricket pitch, now means families can access additional support through the hospice.

After years of preparation, uncertainty and pandemic related delays, the expansion of Claire House Liverpool is moving forward.

“It’s massively exciting,” says Lesley. “Merseyside families urgently need specialist care, and building a full hospice there means we can make an even bigger impact, while protecting the high quality care we provide in the Wirral and across our communities. This next phase is about asking where we can make the biggest difference and how we bring everyone on that journey.”

Supporting families at the most difficult moments has shaped her outlook both professionally and personally.

“It’s a privilege to be with families when their child dies,” Lesley reflects. “It changes your perspective. You go home and hug your children a bit tighter. You don’t sweat the small stuff.

“As staff, we have a lot of laughter, even in the hardest circumstances. Talking, reflecting, and looking after each other means you’re able to give the next child the same care you gave the last.”

Looking ahead, Lesley feels excited about the next chapter.

“Liverpool will mean more children living their best life for as long as they can. More families getting the support they need. More moments of joy and stability when everything else feels uncertain.”