Our History

St Elizabeth Hospice has been providing specialist end-of-life care at the heart of the East Suffolk community for more than 20 years.

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.

In 1983 a public fundraising appeal was launched with the aim of raising £1million.

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 £1milliion 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 1.

Building work began in May 1988 with the Duchess of Norfolk laying the foundation stone two months later. 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 5th December that year.

Although built for 20 beds, 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-patients clinics were introduced. By 1997 we had introduced a family support service and extended our day centre building to accommodate twelve 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 tenth anniversary was marked with a celebration of achievement.

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 in-patient 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 staff 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 2010 the in-patient unit and outside entrance areas will benefit from a £1.2 million makeover, part funded by the Department of Health, to ensure the environment is both welcoming, comfortable and practical and for our patients, their family and carers.