Our history
1987 – St Raphael’s Hospice opened its doors in April 1987 – the building project paid for with funds from The Congregation of the Daughters of the Cross of Liege.
1997 – The addition of four extra bedrooms, increasing the number from 10 to 14, as well as providing office space, dayroom and treatment rooms.
2001 – The care services were extended to include patients with a non-cancer terminal diagnosis, such as end-stage organ failure and Motor Neurone Disease.
August 2003 – The exterior redecorated
July 2004 – The kitchen underwent refurbishment
Jan 2006 – Began the Bereavement Services to help bereaved families and relatives cope with their grief.
2007 – Introduction of Community Triage Service, providing access to advice for patients and Health Care Professionals
2007 – Partial refurbishment of the hospice physical environment and an extension to our day centre. £222,000 project
December 2008 – Replacement of the Nurse call system on the wards
May 2009 – Start of Hospice at Home Service – A new service to provide care for patients at home and support to their relatives, available on a 24-hour basis.
May 2011 – Refurbishment of patient bathrooms and the nurse stations. £500,000 project.
October 2012 – Opening of the redesigned and refurbished day care facilities re-named the Jubilee Therapy Centre opened by The Rt Hon Sir John Major, former Prime Minister. This new day care centre offered an expanded range of day services for patients.
Dec 2012 – First Point of Contact and Triage Team introduced to facilitate a single point of access for anyone contacting the Hospice. It has speeded up the response time from referral to visit or admission and provides immediate access to advice and support to patients, relatives and Health Care Professionals.
2012-2013 – For the first time the Hospice supported over 1,000 patients in a year.
Summer 2013 – Building of the Orangery café and extension to provide overnight accommodation for relatives and a shared cafe area.
2018 – A new logo was launched
2020 – Hospice became an independent charity maintaining the name St Raphael’s Hospice.
2021 – Hospice Inpatient Unit was refreshed and updated.