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St Nicholas' Hospice
Hospice
WRVS
Past, Present and Future 1984 St Nicholas' Hospice was founded, being named after a medieval hospice in the town which cared for travellers and the sick. One Home Care nurse was based at the local Health Centre and a fund-raiser and a secretary worked in a borrowed office. 1985 An appeal for �1.25 million was launched and a property, Turret Close on Westgate Street, was purchased and refurbished. This became the hospice base for the Continuing Care Team and in time the location for a day care centre with full support services. Each phase of expansion had to be justified by the need for services and the availability of funds; by 1990 the demand for a bedded unit had become insistent. 1991 An appeal for �2.5 million was launched in June and work began immediately on a site which had been generously offered by the local Health Authority at a 'peppercorn' rent. 1992 The new hospice building on Hardwick Heath was occupied in November. Turret Close was sold. 1993 In March the long-awaited In-patient Unit admitted its first resident patients. HRH The Princess of Wales officially opened the hospice on 27 July, 1993. Today as the hospice, an independent charity, continues to develop its services to the community the primary task is to meet the considerable costs of running it. Annual costs are now �2 million, with the NSH only providing 30% of this figure. The remainder has to be found from the private sector and voluntary donations; hence the need for continuous dedicated support from all sections of the community. Patients and the Hospice Team St Nicholas' Hospice provides special forms of care and comfort to patients and their families both in the Day Hospice and in the In-patient Unit, while our Macmillan nurses offer home care. Under the supervision of staff, volunteers in the hospice help create a 'home from home' atmosphere; they also offer beauty therapy and hairdressing as well as preparing refreshments, helping with activities and hobbies, listening and talking, and providing transport. Others greet visitors and operate the switchboard, assist with clerical and typing work, help with laundry and flower arrangements and so on. Selected volunteers with specialist training work with the Family Support Service. While our growing number of hospice shops raise funds they also act as information centres. Willing helpers are always need to join their teams of voluntary assistants. Volunteers are also needed to help local fund-raising groups and to support the efforts of the full-time fund-raising staff. Visit St Nicholas Hospice on the The NHS Confederation. |
How You Can Help Everyone can help but especially those who live in and around Bury St Edmunds, Newmarket, Mildenhall, Brandon, Thetford, Sudbury, Stowmarket, Haverhill and Diss, for example.
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