Trinity Hospice celebrates its 40th anniversary and is using the occasion to thank supporters who, over the last four decades, have helped to ensure the hospice stays open and its care is free of charge for all who need it.
Trinity opened its doors and accepted its first patient on 3rd June 1985 after years of dedicated fundraising to build a hospice for the Fylde.
The vision was developed by local GP, Dr David Cooper, who believed everyone living in Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre had the right to good end-of-life care.
As the hospice reaches his milestone, Dr Cooper says: “It is a great privilege to be asked after many years of retirement to contribute to this 40th anniversary message. For me the form of that contribution is obvious – to say ‘thank you’ once again to all those in the Fylde and beyond who made Trinity Hospice a reality with their support over many years.
“Since the first notice appeared in the Gazette in 1979 the enthusiasm for developing a Hospice in the Fylde and the support that accompanied it has been unwavering. There have been many hurdles to overcome, financial, political and administrative but with the help of the local community, various levels of the NHS management and government ministers, we have reached our 40th year. I cannot say ‘thank you’ enough on behalf of all those patients and families that we have been able to help over those years.
“Along with my ‘thank you’ I am asking for your ongoing support in any way you can so that Trinity and the multiple services it provides can succeed for another 40 years – at least.”
Today’s hospice care is very different to that of 40 years ago, where more people are being supported by hospice nurses and care teams at home and away from the hospice. Last year, Trinity’s Community Palliative Care Team supported 1,594 patients, while 362 patients were admitted into the Bispham hospice.
Overall, Trinity supported 41% of all deaths on the Fylde coast as well as coaching, training and supporting other health care professionals.
Over the years, Trinity has had a lasting impact on countless families going through a difficult time, supporting patients on the journey to the end of life and supporting loved ones at the bedside and after through specialist counselling and support.
Among them were Bernie and Linda Nolan, whose sister Anne has given a message of support as the hospices reaches its 40th anniversary.
She said: “My family has had the privilege of being cared for by Trinity a number of times over the years, and each time we are reminded of the amazing and very special place it is.
“My sister Bernie was in the hospice before she died in 2013. The wonderful staff that were with us were so kind and it meant so much to our family that we could all be there with her – together. That’s so special and wouldn’t have been possible anywhere else.
“At that time, we weren’t ‘The Nolans’. We were treated with all the compassion and care that everyone else receives at Trinity.
“Just two years ago, we were supported by Trinity again when my Auntie Teresa became very unwell with her cancer. She was looked after by carers at our house, but a Trinity nurse called round and gave me their number. She told me there would be someone there for me, whatever time even during the night, if I needed them. Just to know that someone was there for me meant so much.
“And then we needed Trinity again when Linda became unwell.
“Trinity meant so much to her – she spoke so often about the wonderful people she had met at the hospice and honestly, I don’t know what she’d have done without them. And although her final days were at the hospital, a Trinity nurse came to see us to make sure we were alright.
“We have a big family and we all support each other, but sometimes knowing there is someone else to talk to – to ask questions no-one else can answer or to help think about what’s happening in new ways, makes all the difference. And in the end, Trinity became family to us.
“It’s a wonderful place that means so much to so many people, and we’re so proud to be able to support Trinity as it celebrates 40 years of caring for local families – families like ours.”
It costs more than £12.5m to run all of Trintiy’s services, which includes Brian House Children’s Hospice, all day, every day. But as funding from the government covers less than 30% of the hospice’s costs, Trinity relies on the support of its community – the people it serves – in order to provide care for everyone who needs it on the Fylde coast.
The hospice’s Chief Executive, David Houston, said: “As we celebrate our 40th anniversary, it’s important for us that we rightly recognise the people who have brough us here today – our colleagues past and presents, the incredible people who donate their time as hospice volunteers and the exceptional people who support our charity with donations or by raising sponsorship so that we can continue to care, day in and day out, for local people and their loved ones.
“It is only thanks to that support that Trinity’s care is not limited to our hospice, but extends to all corners of the Fylde coast, supporting people with life-limiting illness in hospital, in nursing homes and in their own homes.
“Trinity’s care is crucial in the wider health and social care system, relieving some of the extensive pressures felt in our hospitals as we lead the way in local palliative and end-of-life care. Yet the funding we receive from the government doesn’t go far enough to enable us to continue to grow our services and meet the increasing need of local people who need dedicated hospice care. It means our community – the people we serve – are left to fill the gap.
“We receive less than 27% of our costs from the government, yet the difference we are making in local health care is significant.
“We thank, wholeheartedly, those who will continue to support us during our 40th year and into the future so that we can plan for the future with confidence amidst such financial uncertainty.”
https://www.trinityhospice.co.uk/40years/
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