St. Catherine's Hospice

St. Catherine's Hospice is a Nonprofit organisation situated in Crawley, United Kingdom. The area in which it accepts patients covers most of the South East of England. St Catherine’s Hospice is a charity dedicated to providing specialised end of life care and support to local people, their families, friends and carers.

History

1978

• Steering Committee of local people formed to establish a Hospice to meet the needs of the local community.

1980

• Gift of land by Sir Norman Longley for the Hospice building in Crawley.
• Memorandum and Articles of Association signed.
• Fundraising support groups of local people based in Burgess Hill, Crawley, East Grinstead, Haywards Heath and Horsham well established.

1982

• Foundation stone at the Hospice building laid by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother.

1983

• First patients admitted to one ward.

1984

• Second ward of fourteen beds opened.
• Formal opening of the Hospice by HRH The Duchess of Kent.

1986

• Specialist Community Care Service established to provide palliative care advice and support for patients at home; and for their families, friends and carers.

1988

• Day Care Service commenced to enable patients to visit the Hospice each week for symptom control, counselling and social support. A key service providing respite for patients and their carers.
• Visit of Hospice by HRH The Princess of Wales.

1990

• Launch of the "New Horizons" appeal to raise funds to establish the Day Care Centre, education and training facilities for healthcare professionals; and to establish a Foundation Fund to provide a solid and secure financial base for the future.

1991

• Official opening by Mrs Ernest Kleinwort of "Mynthurst" Hospice building.
• Official opening of the Day Care Centre by HRH The Duchess of Kent.

2000

• St Catherine’s Hospice wards refurbished using funds received from generous legacies from local people.

2002

• Official opening of the Education and Training Centre by His Grace The Duke of Richmond and Gordon.

2006

• Official opening of 21st anniversary garden.
• An increasing demand for our services, with 30% rise in the numbers of patients referred to St Catherine’s for our palliative care services.

2007

• St Catherine’s Hospice is awarded a grant of £183,560 from the Department of Health, as part of the ‘Dignity in Care Capital Grants Programme for Improving Hospice Environments for Older People’. The project is to create a more flexible, private, therapeutic and multi-functional Day Hospice environment for our patients.

• A further increase in demand for St Catherine’s services, with a current ACTIVE caseload of over 300 patients and their families, friends and carers.

2008

• The Day Services area, which incorporates Day Hospice, reopens following its extensive refurbishment.

• Plans to develop an enhanced community care service are agreed.

2009

• Community care services are expanded and care is extended across East Surrey