Strength, coordination and balance. Elizabeth brings all of this and more to her hospice role

Elizabeth Smith is our Patient and Family Support Services (PFSS) manager for all the therapy aspects of patient care at the hospice, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and complementary therapy.

Coordinating all of that support takes an expert, collaborative and practiced hand and, with over 30 years as a qualified physiotherapist, Elizabeth embodies all of that.

Typically, she gives all of the credit to her team,

“We all strive to help our patients, and their families, to have as much of an everyday life as they possibly can and that is something that really comes naturally to all my colleagues.

They are really great, hardworking and supportive and it is a privilege to work alongside them.

They’re dedicated professionals but also know how to have fun at the right time too.”

Being sporty, Elizabeth knew she wanted to be a physiotherapist from a young age, so she studied physiotherapy at Manchester University, graduating with BSc Honours in 1994.

Although a science degree, Elizabeth says practising in the field is as much an art as it is science. The art is in working with each patient individually to completely understand their health history and their future goals for both optimum physical movement and peace of mind.

Like all health-related subjects, physio also has various specialisms including, amongst others, neuro, musculoskeletal, rheumatology, obstetric gynaecology, respiratory and, of course, palliative.

Before working for the hospice, Elizabeth worked in both private and NHS practise for sixteen years, so gained a well-rounded knowledge of all those specialisms, which is perfect for the hospice as each of our patients will have been on their own unique health journey throughout their lives.

“Because we’re a relatively small organisation we can take an innovative approach to therapy and move much more quickly to try things, in agreement with our patients, that we believe can make their lives more fulfilling.”

In her world outside of the hospice, Elizabeth has been happily married to Roger (they met on holiday in Corfu – you’ll have to ask her) for twenty-seven years and they have boys, Henry and Edward, now in their twenties.

The whole family have been extra hospice helpers from time to time, volunteering for events like Light up a Life and Christmas tree collections.

To keep herself fit Elizabeth rows three times a week in Wallasey’s West Float Dock as a member of Wirral based Liverpool Victoria Rowing Club.

She rowed for England in her teens and nowadays she also rows within a quad, alongside three other ladies, sculling, using two oars, one in each hand, and helped propel her team to a big win in 2025 against six other clubs.

Wow. Well done!

After fifteen years at the hospice, we can safely say that Elizabeth has been a key player in rowing us in a direction that has benefited literally hundreds of patients and their families.

On behalf of them and all of us, thank you so much, Elizabeth.

This is Hospice Care: Your kind donations are the reason we can continue to provide the specialist patient and family support services which enable people facing some of the most challenging times of their lives, alongside their families, to live as well as possible with life limiting illnesses.

At this time of the year we traditionally offer our supporters a way to think about their own peace of mind in the future. By partnering with local solicitors who give their time for free in April, we ask supporters to consider making, or updating, their Will for a suggested donation, £120 for a single Will and £170 for a double Will which is less than half of the normal fee, which goes directly to the hospice.

There is no further obligation, but we do say once those decisions on where your estate will go and your family have been provided for, please consider leaving a gift to Wirral Hospice St John’s.

To find more details click on the link here, This is Hospice Care.