The Kingston Hospital Charity has paid tribute to a local resident who recently helped fund a new garden and meeting space for staff at Kingston Hospital.

In September 2021, Karen Hindle received an incurable but treatable cancer diagnosis. The oncology teams at Kingston Hospital went to work but unfortunately the cancer had already swept through her body and the severity of the treatment weakened Karen so much that she contracted serious pneumonia.

Despite recovering, Karen was unable to take anymore treatment but the team at Kingston Hospital ensured they were able to temporarily discharge her in time to spend Christmas with husband Pete Wylie and the rest of her family.

Karen's husband, Pete said: "Karen realised that knowing you're dying changes everything. Those pension plans? That will? They can become a potent force for good. In the three months left to her Karen reviewed it all and with her recent experiences still fresh, she wanted to find a way to help improve the working lives of the hospital staff, even by a little bit.

Karen Hindle with husband Pete Wylie

"We had both heard about the work of Kingston Hospital Charity. She didn't want her money to go on a clinical building or machinery. She wanted to invest in the wellbeing of those people who worked to save her. Karen exhumed the old will and re-directed money to Kingston Hospital Charity. I am sure she would be pleased knowing that her gift has helped to provide a new garden and meeting area for staff."

Rob Aldous, Director of Kingston Hospital Charity, added: "Those that leave gifts in their wills are very often grateful patients, like Karen, who want to show their gratitude for the care they receive. My thanks go to Karen and her family, and to all who leave a gift in their will in support of our hospital. Gifts in wills are a significant source of support for Kingston Hospital Charity and help us to enhance care in many different ways for the benefit of patients now and in the future.

"There is no obligation to leave a gift to Kingston Hospital Charity when using our free will services, but, after taking care of loved ones, any gift you do decide to make will be greatly appreciated."

To mark Free Wills Month, Kingston Hospital Charity has teamed up with will-writing service Guardian Angel and local solicitors Lodge Brothers Legal Services, to offer an opportunity to write or update a simple will for free.

The Kingston Hospital Charity is a district general hospital supporting around 350,000 people in Kingston, Richmond, Elmbridge (Surrey), Merton, Wandsworth and Sutton. It has approximately 450 acute and general beds and directly employs about 3,200 staff.

To find out more on the work of the local charity, and their partnership with Guardian Angel to mark Free Wills Month, visit the organisation's site here.