Please note: Due to our ongoing building and renovation work, St Joseph's Ward and the Mary Aikenhead Centre are currently operating as a combined unit. All patients continue to receive the same specialist care.
Mary Aikenhead Centre
Compassionate care for patients living with complex medical and nursing needs, in a modern purpose-built unit named after the foundress of the Religious Sisters of Charity, Venerable Mary Aikenhead.
Who we care for
The Mary Aikenhead Centre cares for patients who have been assessed as requiring hospital-based care for complex clinical and nursing needs. The centre was purpose-built in 2006, with ten single rooms and nine twin rooms — each with en-suite facilities and access to private courtyard gardens.
Referrals are made by NHSGGC South Sector Medicine for the Elderly Consultants. If you have questions about whether the centre may be appropriate for your family member, please contact us.
How we care for you
Care is built around each individual. The team works with patients to understand their goals and create a personalised programme, whether that's regaining strength, managing complex symptoms, enjoying time in the gardens, or spending quality time with family.
We believe that every moment matters, and that even the smallest achievement is worth celebrating: a cup of tea in the garden, a meal with a visitor, a video call with grandchildren.
Activities and therapies
Supporting wellbeing and bringing moments of calm during your stay.
Complementary therapies
Gentle chair & bed yoga
Guided relaxation
Arts and crafts
Life story journaling
Virtual reality experience
Games & library
Bedside sessions
Your room
The centre provides single and twin rooms, each with a profiling bed, comfortable armchair, wardrobe, drawers, storage, and a TV. Every room has an en-suite wet room with roll-in shower, washbasin, and WC.
Each room has access to private courtyard gardens, a calm, peaceful outdoor space for patients and families. You're welcome to bring personal items from home.
About Venerable Mary Aikenhead
The centre is named after Venerable Mary Aikenhead (1787–1858), foundress of the Religious Sisters of Charity. Born in Cork, Ireland, Mary dedicated her life to serving the poor and the sick. She founded the order in 1815, and the Sisters went on to establish hospitals, schools, and hospices across the world, including St Margaret of Scotland Hospice in 1950.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Hospice Team encourage everyone to pack small items and personal belongings which will foster comfort and calm.
In addition, everyone is encouraged to pack toiletries of choice, nightwear, underwear, outdoor clothing (fleece, cardigan or zipper hoodie), comfortable and well-fitting shoes, and loungewear to ensure comfort and cosiness when outside. The Hospice Gardens are beautiful and have been created with peace in mind. Whether someone can be out of bed or not, spending time in the Hospice Gardens is recommended.
When packing devices, we recommend all chargers are packed too. Once PAT Testing has taken place, devices can be safely used. The Hospice Team will ensure all devices are charged overnight ahead of each new day to assure seamless connectivity. We encourage all to connect with family and friends via Facetime if possible and the Hospice Team are happy to encourage and facilitate this, most especially to say good morning and good night.
The Hospice Garden Room Catering Team provide all meals, tea, coffee, soft drinks, aperitifs, and small snacks, such as fruit, yoghurts, custards, creamed rice puddings, smoothies, ice-lollies, sandwiches, crisps, biscuits and cakes.
Breakfast is served form 08:00, however if a later breakfast is preferred, this can be arranged with the Ward Hostess. Lunch is served at 13:00 and supper 18:00. Between times, there are small snacks and drinks available. Tea, coffee and cold drinks are served throughout the day, mid-morning, afternoon tea and evening. Warm milk drinks such as hot chocolate, Horlicks or Ovaltine are served late evening prior to sleeping.
Aperitifs are served as and when preferred, and whilst the Hospice will have a selection of wines, beers and spirits available, those who have a preference of alcoholic beverage are encouraged to pack this for personal use. All alcohol is stored in a central drinks trolley and served in the evenings by the Ward Hostess and when requested.
For those who are able to be out of bed, the Hospice Garden Room restaurant is a wonderful environment to spend time with family and friends. The Garden Room menu changes daily and serves breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and supper. A selection of speciality tea, coffee and cold drinks are available alongside sweet treats baked by the Hospice Pastry Chef.
In general, family and friends are welcome to visit the Hospice between the hours of 15:00 to 17:00 and 19:00 to 20:00.
Visiting for family and friends is shaped around personal care episodes and mealtimes. The timing of visiting is discretionary, as often, if families wish to participate in mealtime or if someone is unwell, the timeframe of visiting may change.
Please speak with the Nurse in Charge of the Inpatient Unit to discuss further if you wish to visit out with the suggested timeframes, as we recognise a visit from family and friends can make all the difference in the world.
St Margaret of Scotland Hospice has a ‘No Smoking Policy’ which alludes to patients, staff, family, friends and any visitors to the Hospice.
For those staying in the Hospice, it is important to know all rooms are supplied with piped oxygen. All smoking materials are prohibited.
All questions should be directed to the Nurse in Charge.
Pharmacological supplies supporting the medical management of someone’s care will be supplied by the Hospice. If other medications are currently being utilised, for example over the counter medications or CBD oils, please share this information with the Hospice Team to ensure all safety parameters are considered.
As all drugs/medications have both contraindications and side effects, the Hospice Team would prefer to have an awareness of other drugs in use, to ensure all prescribed treatments are considered and planned in a safe and effective manner.
For those where English is not the first language, the Hospice Team will be delighted to contact and work in partnership with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Interpreting Services.