AFTER two years of careful planning, St Richard’s Hospice was established at the Droitwich home of local doctor Jenny Bulman in 1984.
From there, the group of founders battled with doctors and nurses to get end-of-life care recognised, and gradually the charity was able to grow into new premises.
This would not have been possible without the dedication of staff, volunteers and the general public, who have donated millions of pounds over the years.
Founder member and former chairman of governors Jeannie Young said: “We saw Wildwood Drive as a dream – and it has become reality.
“There was so much to do on the way and we have had to learn. We could not rush in and we have not rushed in.”
It was originally Dr Bulman’s dream for there to be a hospice in Worcestershire. As a nurse and later a doctor and GP, she knew palliative care was not a speciality in the 1980s. Cancer was a ‘hushed-up’ disease, one which patients and their families had to bear alone – but Dr Bulman and her team wanted to help people look forward and show them the opportunities of living.
Mrs Young said: “Hospices and cancer was thought to be a ticket to a wooden box in those days. Dr Bulman was so aware there was an awful lot more we could do for patients.”
In 1985 the hospice moved to Castle Street in Worcester so it could be close to the old Infirmary, and the number of patients increased.
This in turn meant that more nurses and volunteers were needed, and so the need for extra fund-raising became a huge issue. What started as an ‘at home’ service soon developed into day care, with seven patients regularly visiting the Castle Street sitting room to eat food made by hospice staff.
By 1991 the hospice needed bigger premises, so moved to Rose Hill where staff were able to look after more people in the day hospice.
They also started an education service to spread the philosophy of hospice care to health professionals.
Then, in 2004, they launched the New Hospice Appeal to raise £5.2million for the purpose-built centre in Wildwood Drive, Worcester, which welcomed its first patients two years later.
“I am hugely proud of the whole thing,” Mrs Young said. “It is a success story thanks to so many people.”
HOW YOU CAN HELP
Donating money to St Richard's couldn't be easier.
Cut out the coupon in the print edition of today's Worcester News, visit our dedicated fund-raising page at justgiving.com/wn4strichards... or click the button below to go straight there.
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