St Elizabeth Hospice and East Coast Hospice Announce Merger

St Elizabeth Hospice and East Coast Hospice have announced they will be joining together to create an achievable and sustainable palliative and end of life care service for the communities of Great Yarmouth and Waveney.

The announcement follows a period of consultation with partners, stakeholders and the local community, with the two organisations now using this insight to inform their developing plans as a merged charity. Their activities in Great Yarmouth and Waveney will use the name ‘St Elizabeth East Coast Hospice’, whilst the activities in Ipswich and East Suffolk will continue to use the name ’St Elizabeth Hospice’.

With St Elizabeth Hospice already providing services in the area, in partnership with East Coast Community Healthcare, St Elizabeth East Coast Hospice will build upon and work in conjunction with this existing service which has supported more than 3,700 patients and their families in Great Yarmouth and Waveney since launching services in this area in April 2019.

Judi Newman, St Elizabeth Hospice Chief Executive Officer, said: “We are delighted to announce the merger of St Elizabeth Hospice and East Coast Hospice, which signals a step forward as we work together to achieve our shared ambition of a sustainable palliative and end-of-life care service for the communities of Great Yarmouth and Waveney.

“With East Coast Hospice running a capital appeal, it makes sense for us to join forces to seek a solution in the most effective manner, with a single call to action for these coastal communities.

“We once again offer our thanks to all who have contributed towards to improving the levels of palliative care in Great Yarmouth and Waveney over the years and we will explore all avenues as we look to create an achievable and viable plan for these communities.”

Acting Chair of East Coast Hospice, Bridget Lowe, said: “After many years of fundraising and running our shops, we are delighted that we have a partner in St Elizabeth Hospice to work together on our mission to grow palliative care services locally for the benefit of the local population.

“The landscape has changed significantly, since the charity started in 2007, and we are excited about our future together. We would like to thank everyone who has helped us on our journey so far, especially our donors, volunteers and colleagues.” 

More information will be announced in the coming months as the St Elizabeth East Coast Hospice team collaborate to conduct a full feasibility study for current and future needs with stakeholders and clearly outline a plan for the communities of Great Yarmouth and Waveney.

Further information about the St Elizabeth Hospice’s services in Great Yarmouth and Waveney can found by visiting www.stelizabethhospice.org.uk/st-elizabeth-east-coast-hospice or call 01473 723600 to register your interest for further updates.

More information about East Coast Hospice can be found at www.eastcoasthospice.org.uk/