When Father Sartori first identified the need for hospice care in his community, he could not have imagined that his legacy would touch the lives of thousands of families across this rural Welsh county for more than four decades.
Established in 1982, the charity initially operated with just six carers. Today, it employs over 90 staff, with a clinical team of around 50 delivering a wide range of services. During 2024/25 they delivered nearly 15,000 hours of hands-on nursing care; supplied over 1,700 items of equipment to patients' homes; delivered a range of complementary therapies to 188 patients and supported 305 adults with their counselling needs. Whilst 8 patients were supported with physiotherapy and 237 people were referred to the future care planning service. Now more than 1,000 patients access one or more of its seven clinical services annually, with over 80% dying in their preferred place of care.
What makes Paul Sartori particularly vital is its position serving one of Wales' most geographically challenging regions. Pembrokeshire's dispersed, rural and coastal communities face significant barriers to healthcare access: longer travel distances, limited public transport, and an ageing population with increasingly complex needs. For families caring for loved ones at the end of life, the prospect of frequent hospital visits or out of the county hospice facilities can be overwhelming. Paul Sartori's model brings expert care directly into the home, enabling patients with any life limiting conditions to spend their final days surrounded by family, with dignity and in comfort.
Paul Sartori is probably known for its hands on respite service, provided by Registered Nurses and experienced nursing assistants. This can be rapid response to support a patient being discharged home from hospital or can prevent a hospital admission. The charity's services extend far beyond nursing care. Its holistic approach encompasses equipment loans (hospital beds, wheelchairs, commodes), complementary therapies to ease symptoms such as pain and anxiety, physiotherapy, anticipatory and bereavement counselling, and future care planning – all provided free of charge, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year including the on-call service. This wraparound support recognises that end-of-life care affects entire families, not just patients.
"The wonderful Paul Sartori team moved into my father's home for the last five days of his life. They treated him with kindness, dignity and compassion – day and night they supported me and allowed me to step back from my caring role and be a daughter again."
- Daughter of a patient supported by the hospice
With annual clinical running costs exceeding £4,100 per day and income of approximately £2.9 million, the charity remains deeply rooted in its community, supported by over 270 volunteers, nine charity shops across the county, and the unwavering generosity of local people. As Pembrokeshire's population continues to age and demand for end-of-life services grows, Paul Sartori stands ready to ensure that no one faces their final journey alone.
Learn more about their work
here.
