1 2 3 Our History It's our 25th anniversary in 2014! Our 25th anniversary will be celebrated throughout 2014 and there will be many ways for people to mark this milestone. We will be updating the website with more details as they are confirmed. St Elizabeth Hospice opened in 1989. It was the foresight and commitment of the local community and medical experts, who laid the groundwork to ensure that need was met. In the late 1970s and early 1980s there were discussions between various groups, including the then East Suffolk District Health Authority, about establishing a Hospice in East Suffolk. It was clear, however, the Health Authority was unable to fund the project so an appeal committee was formed. £1m fundraising appeal In 1983 a public fundraising appeal was launched with the aim of raising £1 million. In the four years that followed, members of the appeal committee visited other hospices, worked tirelessly in their own time to fundraise, encourage donations from the public and keep the campaign in the local media. Behind the scenes they were also busy planning the building and how services could be run. In 1987 their determination and the amazing support and generosity of local people paid off and the £1million target was met. A local paper ran a competition to suggest a name and St Elizabeth was chosen. The Hospice is named after St Elizabeth of Thuringia, known for her kindness to the less fortunate and devotion to the poor and sick. The easily recognisable Tudor rose was adopted as the Hospice logo, because of its links to another well-known Elizabeth, Queen Elizabeth I. Building work began in May 1988, with the Duchess of Norfolk laying the foundation stone two months later. Hospice opened in 1989 The first patients were admitted on 1st November 1989, the building and equipment and furnishings were all paid for, and HRH the Princess Royal officially opened the building on the 5th December that year. The original plan was to have 20 beds, but it was decided to initially open with ten, set out in two wards of four beds each and two single rooms. Later two more single rooms were opened and in June 1990 our Day Centre was opened to cater for eight patients each day. In the following years a further four bedded bay was opened and complementary therapies and out-patient clinics were introduced. By 1997 we had introduced a Family Support service and extended our Day Centre building to accommodate 12 patients per day. Former Ipswich Town and England Manager, Bobby Robson, opened the new day centre in October 1997. Just two years later the Hospice's 10th anniversary was marked with a celebration of achievement. Growing local Hospice care for local people The Hospice has continued to develop over the years to keep a pace with demand, modern times and medical progression. In 2000, two larger single rooms on the Inpatient Unit were opened and the existing four extended to include their own en-suite facilities and ceiling mounted hoists. The four bedded wards were refurbished and piped oxygen installed to every bed. A purpose built education centre was added together with another area for the family support team, chaplain, and Hospice at Home team. In 2007 and 2008 a major extension took place ensuring Day Care services, the dining room, physiotherapy and occupational therapy services were upgraded. In 2011 the Inpatient Unit and outside entrance areas benefited from a £1.7 million makeover, part funded by the Department of Health, to ensure the environment is both welcoming, comfortable and practical for our patients, their family and carers. On 4th July 2011 we merged with Waveney Hospice Care, paving the way for the development of services in Great Yarmouth and Waveney. In 2011-2012 we expanded our services into Waveney and South Norfolk providing the following Day Services: Beccles Memorial Hospital on Thursdays All Hallows Hospital, Ditchingham on Mondays Gorleston-on-Sea, Great Yarmouth on Mondays. In 2013 we started offering a range of services at the Louise Hamilton Centre in Gorleston. About us How we are funded Our history Our Team Partnership Group Work for us 25th Anniversary Google+ facebook twitter youtube pinterest Search Home Events News Contact Login 24-Hour specialist advice0800 56 70 111 About us How the Hospice can help you Services Specialist support wherever needed Support us What can you do to help? Donate Help us grow Hospice care Google+ facebook twitter youtube pinterest Improving life for people living with a progressive illness Terms and Conditions Privacy Policy Cookies Sitemap Contact St Elizabeth Hospice, 565 Foxhall Road, Ipswich, Suffolk IP3 8LX Tel: 01473 727776 Fax: 01473 274717 Email: enquiries@stelizabethhospice.org.uk Listen to this page Translate this page: FundRaising Standards Board St Elizabeth Care Agency Newsletter signup If you would like to receive our monthly eNewsletter sign up here. Enter email address © Copyright St Elizabeth Hospice (Suffolk) 2015. A company limited by guarantee and not having a share capital Registered Charity No. 289154 Website by itineris. Email Marketing by Little Green Plane