Yearbook 2013-14
years of caring
Celebrating
H
1981
A message from our
Chief Executive
This photo of Paul Cronin was taken when
he joined our hospice in 2003.
years of caring
CelebratingIn March 1981 a public meeting was called by former nurse Sheila Laws at Shrewsbury Castle to
persuade the local health service and general public that Shropshire needed a hospice. This meeting
was the first major landmark in our hospice’s history.
Paul Cronin, Chief Executive
It is hard to believe that Severn Hospice is 25-years-old in
2014. In this Yearbook we celebrate the essential work of
the hospice over a quarter of a century and all those who
have made it possible, including supporters like you.
And what a story it is. From the passion and commitment
of the early fundraisers and Trustees to the large and
complex organisation we are today, it is an absolutely
fascinating journey.
In the pages that follow we celebrate the work of the
hospice in the last year but at the same time set these
achievements in their proper historical context by taking a
look back to former times. The differences are sometimes
enormous but the philosophy of care and the passion that
underpins all we do at the hospice remains constant.
I would like to thank all the staff and volunteers that carry
this flame in everything they do at Severn Hospice and
indeed to our supporters who make it all possible. We are
truly the best example of a local service for the people by
the people and may this remain so in the next 25 years, and
the next, and the next...
With very best wishes
www.severnhospice.org.uk
John Tancock, Former Vice-Chairman
– I joined the hospice in: 1981, when I
volunteered my services on the hospice
steering committee after attending the
initial public meeting
“It took us six years to reach the sod
cutting stage and a further two years
to build and commission the hospice.
Certainly, in those days, every hospice
in the development stage needed an
inspirational and determined person to
drive the idea along and Sheila Laws, supported by her
husband Dr John, was such a person. I was there on the
day the first patient was admitted. It had been a long haul
but, to me, a building site had suddenly become a place of
caring – a truly moving moment. I retired in 2001, a period
of 20 years which I will always look back on as being one of
the most rewarding experiences of my life.”
Our team
With more than 300 staff and an army of over 950
volunteers working at our hospice sites, shops and in
communities across Shropshire and Mid Wales, our caring
team is able to touch the lives of thousands of local people
every year.
To commemorate our silver anniversary we have asked
some of our longest serving staff and volunteers to share
their memories of how the hospice has developed since its
fledgling years.
Caroline Clegg, Social Worker – I joined
the hospice in: October 1990, I was the
first social worker employed by the hospice
“My abiding memories of the first years of
working here are of the closeness of the
small team that we were. That feeling has
not really changed, although the size of
the team and the scope of the hospice has
changed radically. The standard of care
has not changed. From the days when Dr
Bill Watson would talk to patients perched
on their bed with black Labrador Henry also in attendance,
to the present when everyone from the clinical team to
the kitchen staff will do their utmost to support patients,
families and friends and to look out for each other too.”
Helen Duce, Day Hospice Manager – I joined the hospice in: July 1989,
when I had my induction along with
all the original nurses
“I started at the hospice as one of
the nursing team and I still have
the original letter offering me a job.
When we all started we knew that this
place was full of possibilities and by
all working together we’d make it a
reality. At the time it felt like we had a
lot to learn but we were all here for the same purpose;
to help local people. I’ve had a number of roles at the
hospice and the main change has been the incredible
growth in the scale of our organisation. That said, we
have always maintained the family feel we had in the
early days.”
Jean Dorsett, Staff Nurse – I joined the
hospice in: 1989, the hospice’s first year
“I joined the hospice first as a volunteer
then as a member of staff. From day
one there was always a warmth to the
hospice. Over the years the hospice has
expanded so much, and changed its
name, but the one thing that has stayed
true is the hospice ideal. I will always be
proud of being part of the hospice.”
Bill Quirk, Volunteer – I joined the hospice
in: September 1989, having seen an advert
in the local newspaper
“Coming to Shrewsbury a few years after
retiring I realised I ought to make some
return for being supported by the taxpayer
and also find somewhere I belong. So after
reading in the local press of a hospice
opening on my doorstep, I volunteered
with my wife in September 1989 and was
assigned to the Appeals department to set
up a covenant system. There followed many different roles
in Appeals and Finance, all bringing their own feeling of
satisfaction.”
In June 1985 an official appeal was launched by Lord Shrewsbury at the town’s
Shirehall to raise funds to build the proposed new hospice in Shrewsbury. 1985
...and then
Now...
www.severnhospice.org.uk
Originally called the Shropshire
and Mid Wales Hospice, our
building in Bicton Heath was
officially opened in April 1991
by HRH Duchess of Kent.
Our anniversary events in 2014
You can join us to celebrate our silver anniversary at
one of our many events organised for 2014. Visit our
website – www.severnhospice.org.uk – throughout
the year for more information on all the events we
have planned.
8 March – Pontesbury Potter
26 April – Severn Silver Stride, a walk from our
hospice in Telford to our hospice in Shrewsbury
10 May – Midnight Walk in Telford
24 May – Bank Holiday train trip to Torquay
31 May – Midnight Walk in Shrewsbury
22 June – Dragon Boat Festival
June-August – 25 open gardens across Shropshire
11 July – Silver anniversary Grand Prize Draw
12 July – Silver anniversary Dinner Dance
13 July – 25th anniversary service of thanksgiving
at St Chad’s Church, Shrewsbury
19-20 July – Ironbridge Gorge Brass Band Festival
10 August – Attingham Classic Vehicle Rally
13-16 September – Cycle the Western Front
26 September – Fire Walk
22 November – Christmas shopping train trip
to Edinburgh
5 December – Lights of Love
19 December – Christmas Raffle Grand Prize Draw
www.severnhospice.org.uk
...and then
Now...In April 1987 the plans for a new hospice in Shrewsbury turned into reality when the first
sod was cut at the Bicton Heath site by our founder Sheila Laws. The foundation stone
was laid in the July and is still visible at the front of the building.1987
Our buildings
The one constant since our hospice came into existence 25
years ago has been our site in Bicton Heath. The purpose-
built hospice opened to patients in 1989, two years after
construction first began in an empty field near Oxon Hall.
The building housed an inpatient ward and a day hospice.
In the beginning we were able to care for 10 inpatients at
any one time at Bicton Heath. We now support up to 24
patients in our three wards over both our inpatient sites.
Since we completed our second site at Apley Castle in
Telford seven years ago we have been working through a
phased programme of redevelopments at our Bicton Heath
hospice to ensure a consistent standard of facilities for
our patients across both sites. Improvements included a
refurbishment of our main kitchens, upgrading our Perry
Ward from shared to single patient rooms, and renovating
day hospice facilities.
In 2013 we completed several major developments at
Bicton Heath thanks to a grant from the Department
of Health for almost 70 per cent of the total cost of the
project. The remaining money came from our capital
budget and generous members of the local community
through their kind donations and legacies.
A new sanctuary was created centrally,
between our two wards, making it
more accessible for our patients and
their families. We improved patient
facilities on Breidden Ward by making
each room single occupancy with en-
suite facilities. A new conservatory was
built, offering those who use it a lovely
view of our award-winning gardens.
Communal areas on Breidden were
refurbished so patients can enjoy a
meal or sit with their loved ones in
comfortable surroundings. Working
areas for our staff and volunteers were
also improved.
All of these improvements are part of
our hospice’s ongoing dedication to
continue providing the best possible
care in a beautiful setting, enhancing
privacy and dignity for our patients for
years to come.
Our Shrewsbury hospice
took just over a year to
build, this photo was taken
in September 1987 when
work was still in progress.
As well as our hospices in
Bicton Heath and Apley
Castle, we also have our
Hafan Day Hospice in
Newtown, Powys, which
officially opened in 1998.
www.severnhospice.org.uk
Our conservatory is one of a
number of new areas created
at our Bicton Heath hospice
where patients and their
friends and relatives can sit
in comfort and tranquillity.
Courtesy of Stonehouse Photographic
www.severnhospice.org.uk
...and then
Now...95 patients were referred to the hospice in our first year of providing care for local people.
This number has increased considerably over the years as the organisation has grown.
In 2012/13 we had 1,907 patient referrals, a record number for our hospice.1989
Our doctors
In 2013 our founding medical director, Dr Jeremy Johnson,
retired after 24 years. As one of our original members
of staff, Dr Johnson admitted the hospice’s very first
patient on 12th July 1989. Since that day thousands of
local people have been touched by his compassion and
dedication. For almost our entire history Dr Johnson, as
single-handed consultant and medical director, led not only
the development of our medical services but also the day-
to-day operations of the medical department, including the
recruitment and development of staff.
Dr Johnson’s retirement heralded a new era at our hospice.
As the demands on our hospice services have grown and the
understanding of caring for people with incurable illnesses
as a specialism has deepened over the years, our medical
team has adapted to embrace these changes.
In 2010 our medical department grew and now has the
equivalent of three full time consultants spread over five
posts. Every member of the team brings with them a
range of interests and expertise which has allowed each
consultant to take on their own area of specialism.
Dr Claire Stockdale leads our palliative
care services in North Powys and also
specialises in motor neurone disease.
Dr Toria Stevens is responsible for
building strong links with our local
NHS hospitals and looking after
patients on Breidden Ward. Dr Derek
Willis, our lead consultant, oversees
our services in Telford and professional
education. Dr Alice O’Connor leads on
developing services in the community.
Dr Louise Gilhooley is responsible for
caring for people on Perry Ward as well
as supporting terminally ill patients
with non-cancer illnesses.
Our medical team may have grown
and developed since 1989 but its aim
has always been the same over the
past 25 years. Our doctors remain
dedicated to providing excellent,
expert care in an environment that
is welcoming and comforting for
patients and their families at a time
when they are often at their most
vulnerable.
Dr Jeremy Johnson with
his family at the official
opening of our Bicton
Heath hospice in 1991.
Dr Louise Gilhooley joined
our hospice in March 2012
and is the fifth member of
our consultant team.
www.severnhospice.org.uk
Dr Derek Willis
leads our team of
consultants which
includes (from
second left) Dr Alice
O’Connor, Dr Toria
Stevens and Dr
Claire Stockdale.
Courtesy of Stonehouse Photographic
www.severnhospice.org.uk
...and then
Now...
Our patients
Thanks to supporters like you, our caring teams are here to
provide skilled, loving care to local people during good days,
bad days and the worst of days. Whether it is on our wards,
in our day hospices or in a patient’s home, our doctors,
nurses and many support teams exist to give expert end of
life support to those who need it.
In 2007 we opened our hospice in Apley Castle, providing
a much-needed service for Telford and the surrounding
areas. Since then, we have cared for hundreds of patients
at our Apley Castle hospice. Shirley Morris, from Madeley,
was one of the patients who received care on our Alexandra
Ward in 2013.
Our staff go to great lengths to ensure all of our patients
make the most of every day and, by doing so, help families
build positive memories to help them through the most
difficult of times. When one of our nursing team found out
Shirley had a life-long love of horses, she decided to do
something a little out of the ordinary to make her smile.
Nursing Assistant Julie Crook brought her horse Lilly into
work one Friday morning so that Shirley could fulfil her wish
to see one of the animals up close again. For Shirley, the
gesture was truly uplifting.
Shirley Morris received a special visitor
when Lilly the horse came to our Apley
Castle hospice.
Nurses care for our first ever inpatient at
our Bicton Heath hospice in July 1989.
“I’d heard about people bringing dogs into the
hospice to visit people but I’d never thought they’d
let a horse visit. I have been on a real high since and
it has helped me enormously,” Shirley said.
“If I hadn’t come to stay at the hospice I probably
wouldn’t have got that close to a horse again in my
life. They go out of their way to help you and they
treat you how you want to be treated. Lilly coming
to visit is something I can take away with me in my
memory. It was lovely, absolutely lovely.”
Shirley Morris sadly passed away shortly after
Lilly’s visit.
1996In September 1996 we opened a day hospice at Portway House, Telford. After 11 years,
the day hospice was moved to Apley Castle when the building opened to day patients on
11th September 2007.
www.severnhospice.org.uk
Our Trustees took the major step of launching
a £5 million appeal for a new hospice in Apley
Castle, Telford, in July 2004. A big crowd of
supporters turned out to help cut the first sod
for the building work in July 2006. The keys for
the new hospice were handed over in 2007,
with the day hospice opening that September.
We welcomed our first inpatient in July 2008.
www.severnhospice.org.uk
...and then
Now...
Our services
Since we first opened our doors to patients in 1989,
demand for our hospice’s services has increased year on
year. In the last decade, we have seen the number of people
who are referred to our services more than double meaning
we are helping more patients than ever during their time of
greatest need.
As the number of local people who rely on our care has
grown, our hospice has always actively looked to expand
and adapt our services to meet the demand. One of
the major changes over the last 10 years has been the
development of our home and community-based hospice
care.
People often think of a hospice as a building, with care
which is confined by four walls. While it is true that we have
hospice buildings where patients and their loved ones come
to receive support, the majority of people we help are seen
out in the community. More than three quarters of people
who need our care receive it while they are at home thanks
to our Hospice at Home service, our team of Clinical Nurse
Specialists (CNS) and our Occupational Therapists.
www.severnhospice.org.uk
In 2013 our Hospice at Home service
celebrated its 10th birthday. This team of
experienced nurses and healthcare assistants
provides hands-on care to people in the last
few weeks of life out in the many towns and
villages we serve, helping our patients fulfil
their wish to die in their own home.
Between September 2012 and
September 2013, our CNS team made
4,289 visits to patients at home to
give specialist advice on the complex
physical and psychological effects
of their illness. With their extensive
training, skills and experience in
helping people with cancer, our CNS
team are experts in their field.
Whether it is visiting patients who
have just been diagnosed with cancer
or supporting those in the final stages
of the illness, our CNSs are able to
assess the physical, social, spiritual
and psychological needs of those
they are caring for to help them make
the most of every day. Ultimately,
all our hospice services are aimed at
achieving this. For while our caring
teams can’t put days into life, they are
dedicated to putting life into days for
those with incurable illnesses.
Members of our CNS team travel around
Shropshire and Mid Wales, visiting
patients at home to provide expert
support and advice.
In 2011 our hospice officially took over the management of all of Shropshire and Powys’
former Macmillan community nurses. These nurses are now part of our Clinical Nurse
Specialist team after many years of working in close partnership together.2011
This photo shows the hospice’s original nursing team at the
end of their induction week in July 1989. Since then, the
team has expanded greatly and we now employ 163 nurses
who care for patients across Shropshire and Mid Wales. A
handful of the nurses who appear in this photo still work
at the hospice, having dedicated 25 years of their lives to
supporting local people living with incurable illnesses.
www.severnhospice.org.uk
Our fundraising
Our hospice was built thanks to the kindness and generosity
of the local communities we serve. From our very first
donation when we started fundraising in 1982 to the initial
£560,000 gift from the Bradbury Trust which helped us
lay the first bricks at our Bicton Heath site, we have always
depended on willing supporters to help us raise much-
needed income. We are eternally grateful for all the support
we receive.
Since the early days of our fundraising we have developed
different ways our supporters can give to us, providing more
choice to those who want to help our hospice. We opened
our first hospice shop in Newport in 1988 and in the past
25 years this has grown to a network of 21 stores spread
all across our catchment area, with plans to open more in
2014. In 2013, we embarked on a programme of upgrades
for our shops to create an improved environment for our
customers.
Our weekly lottery was launched in 1995 and has been
a vital source of income ever since. In 2012 our lottery
members contributed an incredible £1.4 million to our
fundraising and we are hoping this will continue to grow.
During our 25th anniversary year, we will hold our 1,000th
lottery draw which will be a significant milestone in our
fundraising history.
www.severnhospice.org.uk
Our Ludlow store in King
Street opened in May
2013 and is the first of our
shops to feature a new
and improved design.
Each leaf on our Legacy
Tree is engraved with the
name of somebody who
has left a bequest to our
hospice.
Gifts left in people's wills, also known
as legacies, continue to be our most
important source of voluntary income.
In the last 25 years we have received
almost 500 legacies from supporters
who have chosen to give a precious
gift which will ensure we are able
to carry on providing care to local
people far into the future. We unveiled
a copper Legacy Tree at our Bicton
Heath site in 2011 as a tribute to all
those who have given to the hospice in
this way. During our 25th anniversary
year we plan to install a further tribute
to our legacy supporters.
...and then
Now...1982
In 1982 our founder Sheila Laws began holding a series of coffee mornings to help pull in
the pounds for the new hospice project. We now hold a number of different events every
year to raise funds.
Local people have always done amazing
things to raise money so we can continue to
make a difference to the lives of those we
care for. In 2013, 73-year-old Arnold Grayston
circumnavigated Wales in his tiny dinghy to
raise funds in memory of his wife Karen who
was looked after by our caring teams.
Courtesy of Geoff Ward
Heather Palin, Nursing Director
“Last year we set out our five year
strategy with a focus on the development
of community-based services to aid
patient choice and, where possible,
support care in the home. We have
already made progress on this by working
more flexibly through our Clinical Nurse Specialist and
Hospice at Home services. I would like to think that in 25
years, through a programme of continuous improvement
and service developments, we will have secured services
that respond flexibly to the diverse needs of our patients
and individual communities and moves away from some
of the historical and traditional models.”
Paul Cronin, Chief Executive
“By 2039, advances in medical science
will determine that life expectancy for
people with life threatening conditions will
be much extended. People will therefore
look to the hospice for symptom control
services in greater volume to enable
them to lead active lives and, indeed, active working
lives, as people choose or are required to extend their
careers into advanced old age. The delivery of care, now
funded through a combination of state-funded personal
‘allowances’, private health insurance and charitable giving,
will be increasingly shaped by the individual’s preferences
requiring the hospice to have a workforce able to provide
care in a range of settings including the patient’s own
workplace. In this sense, we will have truly become a
‘hospice without walls’.”
Dr Derek Willis, Lead Consultant
“In 25 years time the hospice will still be
hugely important and will still be in the
charity sector. Its independence from the
National Health Service is our hospice’s
main strength because we can be more
flexible with the care we provide to reflect
the diverse communities we serve. I’m sure there will be a
greater focus on care in a community setting. The majority
of our work will happen in our patients’ homes and other
satellite environments. This is really important when you
are caring for a rural area such as ours.”
Norma Ross, Appeals Director
“Communication is key to raising
and acknowledging funds, recent
developments have forced our hospice to
engage via social media and communicate
by e-mail. I predict this will continue to
develop and interaction by 2039 will be
immediate. My greatest hope is that supporters choose
to engage and have a personal relationship with Severn
Hospice and continue to be our greatest allies as they
are the foundation stones of the care we are able to
provide locally.”
www.severnhospice.org.uk
In July 2004 our Trustees took a decision to change our name from Shropshire and
Mid Wales Hospice to Severn Hospice.
Our future
The past 25 years have seen major changes at our hospice,
many of which have been chronicled in the pages of this
Yearbook. Here, members of our senior management team
examine what the future might hold by predicting how
hospice care will evolve during the next 25 years.
David Sear, Chairman
“In 2039 the population will be much
older. With the continuing advances of
medicine people will be living longer
but likely to have multiple health issues
which will make caring for them more
complex. The hospice service has been
primarily driven by cancer patients, but excellent palliative
care will be demanded for everyone. For Severn Hospice
the challenge will be funding a much larger service
provided across the whole community and by then the
existing premises at Shrewsbury and Telford will need to be
substantially redeveloped.”
...and then
Now...
2004
Whatever changes have taken place at our hospice since
1989, one thing has always remained consistent. Our
patients and their loved ones have been at the heart of
everything we have done over the past 25 years and will
continue to be so far into the future. We still truly believe
that when cure is no longer possible; care is...
Courtesy of Stonehouse Photographic
Our President
Algernon Heber-Percy, HM Lord
Lieutenant of Shropshire
Our Board of Trustees
Chairman – David Sear
Vice-chairman – John Fairclough
Vice-chairman – Peter Stewart
Chairman of Finance – Mike Lowe CBE
Sarah Broomhead
Tony Cordery
Marilyn Rydström OBE
Susan Trevor
Ann Tudor
Mike Tudor
Barbara-Ann Tweedie
Dr Wendy-Jane Walton
Gabrielle de Wet
Francis Yates
...and then
Now...
Our accounts
Thank you for taking the time to look through our special
anniversary Yearbook. It is thanks to supporters like you
that we are able to continue being here when it matters
most for the people of Shropshire and Mid Wales. Day after
day, year after year.
Hopefully you have enjoyed reading about some of the
developments taking place at our hospice, as well as looking
back at some of the key moments in our history. All of the
love and care we give to hundreds of families every year is
only possible thanks to the generous donations we receive
from the communities we serve.
Our care and emotional support is totally free for both
patients and their families; but not without cost. Our
services are funded through a combination of kind
donations from supporters, fundraising activities, our lottery
and retail departments, gifts in people's wills and grants
from the NHS. For every £1 invested through NHS grants,
we provide £3 worth of service to local people.
The kindness and goodwill towards our cause is evident in
the tables opposite. Last year supporters like you helped
raise an incredible sum, every penny of which has made a
real difference to those we care for.
Thank you so much for everything you have helped us achieve.
£ % 1. Donations and events 1,508,000 16
2. Legacies 770,000 8
3. Lottery 1,472,000 16
4. Retail 1,908,000 21
5. Investments 255,000 3
6. NHS grants 3,286,000 36
Total 9,199,000 100
Where our funding came from in 2012/13
Full annual report and accounts for year ending 31st March 2013 are on our website or
available on request from the Appeals or Administration office by post.
1
2
3
45
6
In our first financial year, 1988/89, our total voluntary income was £555,000. This figure
included a substantial donation from the Bradbury Trust of Hong Kong for the final payment
for building our day hospice, meaning around £250,000 was raised by local people in our first
year. Last year our supporters helped raise £5.66 million of voluntary income.
1989
£ % 1. Inpatient care 3,811,000 42
2. Day care and outpatient 1,254,000 14
3. Home and hospital support 943,000 10
4. Hospice at Home 427,000 5
5. Bereavement support 136,000 2
6. Education and library 156,000 2
7. Governance 99,000 1
8. Fundraising expenses 474,000 5
9. Lottery 466,000 5
10. Retail 1,275,000 14
Total 9,041,000 100
How our income was spent in 2012/13
1
2
3
4
56
8
9
10
7
www.severnhospice.org.uk www.severnhospice.org.ukwwwwwwwwwwww.sssssssssseeeeeevvvvvvvvveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrnnnnnnnnnnnnhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhooooooooooooooossssssssssssssssssssssssssppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiicccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccceeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee......ooooooooooooooooorrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggg............uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuukkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkwww.severnhospice.org.uk
Shrewsbury
Severn Hospice
Bicton Heath, Shrewsbury
SY3 8HS
MAIN SWITCHBOARD
01743 236565
APPEALS
01743 354450
Telford
Severn Hospice Telford
Apley Castle, Telford
TF1 6RH
MAIN SWITCHBOARD
01952 221350
APPEALS
01952 221351
Newtown
Severn Hospice Hafan Day Hospice
Montgomery County Infirmary
Llanfair Road, Newtown
POWYS, SY16 2DW
TELEPHONE
01686 617204
Thank you foryour support