Saint Francis Hospice Volunteer Jo Eastman Receives Outstanding Volunteer Award

Saint Francis Hospice is delighted to celebrate volunteer sonographer Jo Eastman, who has been named Outstanding Volunteer of the Year at the prestigious National Palliative and End of Life Care Awards, which took place in London on Thursday 2 July.

The Palliative and End of Life Care Awards judges praised Jo’s exceptional contribution, saying: “Jo Eastman is an extraordinary volunteer whose innovation, expertise and compassion have transformed palliative care at Saint Francis Hospice and beyond. By introducing and developing a pioneering ultrasound service, she has improved clinical decision-making, enhanced patient comfort and enabled dignified, person-centred care, while also shaping national practice and training clinicians across the UK.”

Jo first began volunteering at the hospice in 2013 after her father received care from the charity. Wanting to give something back, she brought with her a wealth of professional expertise as an experienced sonographer. What followed has transformed the way palliative care is delivered, not only at Saint Francis Hospice but increasingly across the UK.

At the time Jo joined the organisation, ultrasound was not part of routine hospice care. Seeing its potential to improve patient assessment and comfort, she introduced a pioneering ultrasound service, sourcing a donated machine, developing clinical protocols and helping establish a new approach to bedside diagnostics.

Volunteering twice a week alongside a demanding hospital career, Jo quickly demonstrated the value of the service. In her first three years alone, she carried out 212 scans for 184 people in our care, helping clinicians identify a range of conditions including urinary retention, deep vein thrombosis, ascites and pleural fluid.

Corinna Midgley, Medical Director at Saint Francis Hospice, said, “Jo’s work has enabled faster decision-making, reduced unnecessary hospital admissions and ensured people receive timely, compassionate care in the setting of their choice.

“One particularly memorable example involved a refugee with advanced illness who desperately wished to return home. When a concerning lump appeared, fears grew that her condition was worsening. Jo’s scan revealed a far simpler cause – constipation. The diagnosis allowed the patient to be treated promptly and travel home safely, fulfilling an important final wish.”

Today, Jo has completed more than 950 scans at Saint Francis Hospice. Beyond her direct clinical impact, she has meticulously collected data to demonstrate the effectiveness of ultrasound in hospice care, presented her findings at national conferences and now teaches introductory ultrasound skills to palliative care clinicians across the country alongside leading experts in the field.