A hospice in Teesside has celebrated four decades of caring for palliative care patients and their loves ones across its community.
Butterwick Hospice held an event to mark 40 years since its opening, inviting guest Dame Susan Snowdon, Lord Lieutenant of County Durham along with a host of other visitors.
The event included a tour of the day hospice, the children’s hospice and the family support area.
It also included a visit to the adult inpatient unit, a facility reopened two years ago as the result of a clinical partnership with the University Hospital of North Tees.
The event continued with speeches from chair of trustees professor Mike Bramble, professor Sir Amritpal Hungin – who has become a hospice patron – and Dame Susan Snowdon.
Also speaking to guests, chief executive Edward Gorringe said: “Butterwick Hospice Care was founded by Mary Butterwick in response to the deeply distressing experience of losing her husband, John, to a brain tumour in 1979. After being told there was nothing more that could be done for him and receiving no emotional or practical support, Mary was determined to create a more compassionate alternative for others facing similar situations.
“I am delighted to say that today, Butterwick Hospice continues to serve communities across Teesside and County Durham, providing a wide range of services to children and adults, and staying true to Mary’s original vision of compassionate end-of-life care.”
Hospice inpatient unit success
Speaking about the hospice’s inpatient unit, Edward added: “I want to thank our colleagues at North Tees and Hartlepool and the support and encouragement in getting our services back to where they should be.
“The staff in our inpatient unit are largely on secondment from the trust with the two sets of staff working together very closely.
“Staff move back and forth between here and the trust and their support has been instrumental so I want to thank them for that.
“We are committed to continuing the legacy here – providing loving care to all our patients and their families and emphasising that dignity, comfort and emotional support that is the bedrock of what we do.”
Speaking to visitors, Dame Susan also told guests: “Today is a celebration, marking and celebrating four decades of dedicated care.
“But there is no complacency, the hospice will continue to work diligently to continue its service to meet the growing needs of its community.
“For Mary Butterwick, each day was a new beginning. Her mission was to improve the quality of life for those with a life limiting illness. I was part of that journey with Mary for the most wonderful nine years I experienced.
“Mary wanted everyone to see death as a part of life’s journey and to treat everyone with care, compassion and dignity.”
The speeches were then followed by the unveiling of a plaque to mark the 40 year anniversary.
The hospice’s founder, Mary Butterwick, faced tragedy in 1979 when her husband died suddenly of cancer. In January 1984 – after selling her family home to kick start the funding she needed – she opened the first day hospice in Stockton.
Forty years later, Mary’s legacy has continued and we now offer care to babies, children and adults across Teesside and County Durham, as well as support for their families.