Compton Care has today announced the launch of a new philanthropy initiative designed to transform local end‑of‑life care by expanding the charity’s pioneering Virtual Ward service.

The programme, known as the Hospice Dragons Fellowship, brings together community‑minded philanthropists, business leaders and long‑standing supporters to help secure the long‑term sustainability of specialist hospice care in people’s homes.

Compton’s Virtual Ward enables patients with complex, life‑limiting conditions to receive round‑the‑clock hospice‑led care without leaving their home. Through a combination of remote monitoring, virtual consultations, rapid response visits and personalised care planning, the service ensures that people can remain in familiar surroundings with dignity, comfort and expert clinical support. The service currently supports up to twenty patients at any one time and includes access to a dedicated advice and referral line that operates twenty‑four hours a day, every day of the year.

Last year, ninety‑eight per cent of Compton patients were able to die in their preferred place, reflecting the importance of expanding home‑based specialist services.

To maintain and develop the Virtual Ward, the charity must raise more than half a million pounds each year. Funds are used to support clinical staff, medical equipment, travel costs, digital infrastructure and essential family services. The need for this support continues to grow, with thousands of people each year relying on Compton’s specialist teams for symptom management, emotional support and urgent intervention.

Last year, the Rapid Response team alone answered seven thousand calls, with eighty‑nine per cent of patients being seen within two hours and the majority avoiding an unnecessary hospital admission. The charity’s 24/7 Advice and Referral Line handled over twenty‑eight thousand calls, providing vital guidance for families at moments of crisis.

The Fellowship invites supporters to commit to multi‑year giving, providing Compton with the stability required to plan ahead with confidence. Members receive personalised updates about the impact of their support and become part of a community committed to ensuring that every local person facing a life‑limiting illness receives the best possible care.

Compton will be hosting a launch event for the Fellowship on 7 May at The Mount Hotel, from 5pm to 7pm. Anyone interested in attending to learn more about the programme is invited to contact Kate Kelly in Compton’s Fundraising team to secure their place, as spaces are limited.

Compton Care’s Chair, Ros Keeton, said: “As demand for hospice care continues to rise, the need for specialist support in people’s homes has never been greater. Our Virtual Ward is already transforming the way our community experiences end‑of‑life care, ensuring people can remain where they feel safest and most supported. The launch of the Hospice Dragons Fellowship marks a significant step forward in securing the long‑term future of this service. Multi‑year philanthropic support allows us to plan confidently, innovate more quickly and reach even more families with the care they deserve. We are deeply grateful to everyone who chooses to stand with us.”

Local businessman and long-term Compton Care supporter Nick Berriman, who has been appointed Chair of the Hospice Dragons Fellowship, added: “Compton has been close to my heart for many years, not only because of the outstanding care it provides, but because of the dignity and compassion it brings to families during their most difficult moments. The Hospice Dragons Fellowship is an opportunity for local leaders and philanthropists to come together and make a meaningful, lasting difference to our community. By supporting Compton Care and its Virtual Ward, we can help ensure that more people are able to receive specialist care in the comfort of their own home. I’m incredibly proud to champion this programme, and I encourage others to join us in shaping the future of hospice care.”

One of the many families supported through Compton’s services last year was Joe’s. Diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, Joe wished to spend her final days at home with her loved ones. With the support of Compton’s specialist nurses, she was able to do just that, making precious memories – including celebrating her youngest daughter’s sixth birthday – before dying peacefully at home. Her family described the care they received as a lifeline, ensuring they were never alone and that Joe remained comfortable throughout.

Compton Care is calling on individuals, families, foundations and businesses to join the Hospice Dragons Fellowship and help secure the future of specialist palliative and end‑of‑life care across Wolverhampton, the Black Country and South Staffordshire.

For further information about the Hospice Dragons Fellowship and to attend the launch event, please contact: Kate Kelly, Corporate, Trusts & Major Donor Manager at fundraising@comptoncare.org.uk.