Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother opens
the hospice in 1976
The building was opened as Edenhall Marie Curie Home for cancer patients back in 1976. In those days, the charity provided long-term nursing and residential care for cancer patients.
Nowadays, in-patients at Marie Curie Hospices are usually more seriously ill, and stay for shorter periods. Day services for outpatients – which were non-existent in 1976 – are now a major part of the hospice’s work.
While the staff and volunteers provide outstanding, modern palliative care, it is obvious that much of the hospice’s interior dates from the 1970s.
Providing patients with a more dignified environment by replacing shared ward bays with single rooms is a top priority for the building project. All the windows need to be replaced, as the hospice can be too cold in the winter and too hot in the summer.
“Our starting point was asking patients what they wanted,” Hospice Manager Rachel Anticoni said. “They said that they wanted a place of beauty that was styled more like a hotel and less like a hospital.”
“Everyone wanted a building they were proud of, wanted single rooms; they wanted contemporary finishes and not flowery chintzy styles we believe our grandparents would like because actually we found out – they don’t like it either.”
“So we are using natural finishes and a lot of wood, and we’re making the most of the floor-to-ceiling windows, which are being replaced and double-glazed.”
“We are refurbishing to meet the needs of the patients of the future – that’s you and me.”
Project Butterfly will cost £3.4 million. The charity has already secured £1.6 million from the Department of Health but still needs to find £1.9million over the next 12 months.
Heading the appeal to fund the work is Capital Appeal / Special Events Fundraising Manager Beverley Brock, who returns to Marie Curie Cancer Care after working in Australia for four years for the Cancer Council of New South Wales and the Leukaemia Foundation.
Beverley said: “Our fundraising is going to be in two phases. The first phase will involve corporates, trusts and individual supporters. We are forming a committee of well-connected local people, who will help us raise funds.
“Plans are in place for a musical event early next year which should generate some buzz and awareness to coincide nicely with the public appeal - the second phase. We’ll be asking local people to support us in lots of ways. We’ll also be approaching local schools, companies, clubs and societies and asking them to get involved in transforming our local hospice.
“We are also planning a direct marketing appeal aimed at people living in the area.”
Beverley and the fundraising team will be working closely with the charity’s media partner for the project – the Ham and High.
“We’re already getting lots of support. It’s a very exciting fundraising project to be part of,” she said.
