St Andrew's Hospice is proud to adopt the Dying to Work charter, showing our commitment and support to employees in the event of a terminal diagnosis.

The charter, part of a campaign led by the Trades Union Congress (TUC), pledges to give a staff member options about how they want to proceed; whether they want to continue at work for as long as they can, or prefer to spend time with family and friends.

Whatever that choice, we, as their employer, are committed to supporting our staff when they need it most.

Signing the charter was Rachel Harvey, Chair of the Board of Trustees at St Andrew's Hospice.

She said: "Our teams and our people are the most important part of the hospice, and caring for others at the most difficult times. This charter really sets the standard for the way we want to support our staff with their own circumstances, as well as caring for others."

Rachel was joined by Melanie Onn, MP for Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes, who has been involved in the Dying to Work campaign since its initiation.

"This started in the Trade Union movement, where it was recognised that people who were living with a terminal illness were being treated really poorly when it came to work and there were no protections from their employers terminating their jobs early. It's about raising awareness and asking employers to commit to that support, recognising there is still worth in the experience of these individuals.

"I'm so delighted that St Andrew's has recognised it and adopted the charter. It's a huge step forward and incredibly progressive. It's really positive for the organisation, but for individuals too. It recognises there are still lots of pressures such as paying bills, even if you have got a terminal illness, so helps keep an element of normality and stability by having the support you need from your employer."

MPs are set to debate the employment rights of people with a terminal illness at Westminster on Wednesday 18th December, from 9.30 to 11am, led by Lee Baron MP.