St Ann’s Hospice has held its name for over 50 years. As the construction on the new Heald Green hospice and plans to further develop the Little Hulton hospice, we were given the once in a lifetime opportunity to reassess our branding – by Cathal Doherty on July 3, 2025
New name, same outstanding care
Today, we at St Ann’s Hospice are announcing our intentions to change our name.On Wednesday, 1st October 2025, St Ann’s Hospice will become Moya Cole Hospice.
The change honours our inspirational founder and the work of hospice pioneers. It is not a decision we have taken lightly, and we do so knowing that for some, this will be difficult news.
To continue serving and caring for those impacted by life-limiting illnesses and their loved ones for years to come, we must ensure that we reflect the wonderful and diverse community that surrounds us and remain culturally relevant in our modern world.
Although a change has been in discussion for many years, making the change at this point in our journey, as we open a new site in Heald Green, and with plans to refurbish Little Hulton in the near future, means we have reduced the cost involved to a minimal amount.
Our name is changing, but we want to reassure you that our commitment to providing outstanding care remains the same. The way we are governed and managed is not changing and our incredible staff will continue their dedicated and compassionate work.
Our founder, Dr Moya Cole, was a trailblazing woman who knew how important hospice care was, and still is, for the community. We move to this next chapter of our history with her legacy and dedication to excellent end-of-life care in our hearts and minds.
If you are a regular donor, have left a gift in your will or play our lottery, you don’t need to take any action. Our charity number and trading company number will stay the same, so you don’t need to do anything. You will notice that from October the name of the payee on your bank statement will change to Moya Cole Hospice.
You can read more, as well as a list of frequently asked questions at www.sah.org.uk/moyacolehospice
If you have any other questions you can also email hospicename@sah.org.uk
For information about how we will continue to process your personal data, please see our privacy notice here: www.sah.org.uk/privacy-policy/. If your details have changed and need updating, please let us know so we can update our records.
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About Dr Moya Cole OBE
Dr Moya Cole OBE was one of the founders of our Heald Green hospice in Stockport back in 1971 and was instrumental in the decision for St Ann’s to open a second hospice in Little Hulton in Salford in 1979. She later served as Deputy Chair and Chair of St Ann’s Hospice.
Moya was highly accomplished and a trailblazer for women – graduating with a BSc degree in physics from Queen’s University in Belfast way back in 1939 and earning an even more impressive MSc a year later.
This would be a huge achievement for someone these days, let alone for a young woman so many decades ago.
She became a consultant in Radiotherapy and Oncology at what was then the Christie Hospital and Holt Radium Institute and ran the first clinical trials in the use of the drug Tamoxifen for breast cancer patients.
According to Professor John Crown writing in The Irish Times: “Dr Cole is the great unsung heroine of Irish cancer research. She carried out the most influential piece of work ever done by an Irish cancer researcher, which has probably saved more than a million lives worldwide.”
Most importantly for the history of St Ann’s Hospice, it was Moya Cole who campaigned tirelessly for the need for hospice care for the people of Greater Manchester.
Our long history of caring for people impacted by life-limiting illnesses in our community all starts with her.
Memories of Moya Cole
She was gentle, empathetic with her patients, her relatives and junior doctors. She was very clear thinking and insisted that everyone remain calm and she let logic dictate her work. Robin Hunter, Former director at The Christie and colleague of Moya Cole
She was a very unassuming lady, authoritative, and very highly thought of. She sensitively and kindly described to me and my family what we were to expect in the future days, regarding the care and attention of my terminally ill mum. Barbara Irvine, St Ann’s Hospice supporter
She was a trailblazer. Everything about her, she was a woman who was well respected and knew the importance of her work. Liz Waring, Nurse, The Being You Centre at St Ann’s Hospice
You walked past her in the halls and she’s someone I looked up to, someone we all looked up to, she was a role model for young nurses such as ourselves. Kathy Edwards, St Ann’s Hospice Inpatient Unit
Hear more from some of the people who knew and admired Dr Moya Cole here.
The Legacy of Moya Cole
1918 Born in Cavan, Ireland
1939 Studied a BSc Physics Degree at Queen’s University Belfast
1948 Graduated from Queen’s University Belfast as a Medical Practitioner
1950 Moved to Manchester to work at what was then the Christie Hospital and Holt Radium Institute
1955 Became a consultant in Radiotherapy and Oncology
Early 1960s First person to give Tamoxifen to breast cancer patients as part of clinical trials
1967 Dr Cole and then Bishop of Manchester, the Rt Rev Dr William Greer, had the idea for a hospice for the people of Greater Manchester
1969 St Ann’s Hospice, Heald Green founded
1971 Heald Green site officially opened by the Queen Mother
1977 Became Deputy Chair of St Ann’s Hospice
1979 Further campaigning from Dr Cole ensures the opening of our second site in Little Hulton
1983 Became Chair of St Ann’s Hospice
1990 Awarded OBE
1992 Moya Cole Day Care Centre opened at Little Hulton
2004 Died in Newcastle, Co. Down
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