St Catherine’s Hospice
St Catherine’s Hospice has been caring for patients and their families,
friends and carers for 25 years.
From mid April the charity will be extending its services in the East
Surrey area, following the decision by Marie Curie to close its hospice
in Caterham.
St Catherine’s will be running hospice day care services at Dormers,
in Foxon Lane, Caterham, enabling patients to come together for group
social support and comfort, complementary therapies and practical help
and advice.
A team of community nurses will visit people in their own homes or in
local care homes, to provide the specialist care and practical support
needed by patients and their families.
Patients will also be able to stay at the hospice in Crawley if they
need to, in order to receive short-stay symptom control, respite and
end of life care.
St Catherine’s is not just a building, it is a way of caring for
people. The hospice aims to improve quality of life, relieve pain
and ease anxiety and distress, to help people live as meaningfully as
possible to the end of their lives, however long that may be.
As well as giving expert medical and nursing care, St Catherine’s also
helps with practical and financial issues and provides social,
emotional and spiritual support. This is offered not just to patients,
but to their families, friends and carers preparing for or coping with
bereavement.
Shaun O’Leary, St Catherine’s Chief Executive, said: “Everyone at St
Catherine’s has been very encouraged by the support already received
from the local community following the announcement of our expansion.
“We are looking forward to working with GPs, healthcare professionals
and supporters in the Caterham area to provide the best possible end of
life care for local people.”
All hospice care is free but St Catherine’s receives just 30% NHS
funding overall. The charity is reliant on the generosity of
local people to help to fund its vital end of life services in the area.
Councillor Sally Marks said recently: “As the local County Councillor
for Caterham, I am so pleased that St Catherine’s is going to be the
provider of hospice care in the Caterham area in particular, and the
Tandridge area in general.
“I want St Catherine’s to be known and valued by us all and there will
be a very important role for the community to play in supporting their
activities. I am very keen to be involved in this and would be
very happy to hear from anyone who would like to help. Phone
01883 653134 or email sally.marks@surreycc.gov.uk.”
For more information about how you can get involved with fundraising
for St Catherine’s, please contact Victoria Lawrence on 01293 447376 or
email tandridgefundraising@stch.org.uk
You can also visit the St Catherine’s website at http://www.stch.org.uk/howyoucanhelp/tandridgefundraising