Our Mission
Woodlands Hospice is a charitable and voluntary organisation which aims to provide specialist care and support for people living with life-threatening illness.
History
The inspiration of Woodlands Hospice was formalised in 1991 - when a small group of individuals established the charity - Woodlands Hospice Charitable Trust.
A number of people recognised that a gap existed within the local community for specialist staff and facilities where patients, with a life threatening illness, their carers and families, could receive support, therapy and advice.
In 1993, the first milestone was reached with the establishment of a Hospital Palliative Care Team, consisting of specialist Nurses and a Consultant for palliative medicine.
A fundraising campaign, and an organised appeal, ensured success in achieving the second milestone - the Day Hospice, which first opened its doors in January 1996.
Since January 1996, up to 100 families, each week, have received support - either as patients, carers or those in bereavement.
Woodlands Hospice Today
The communities served by the hospice across north Merseyside include people from the boroughs of Liverpool, Sefton and Knowsley. Many of these communities experience a high level of multiple deprivation (indices of Deprivation 2000, DETR). This means that many people in our community have higher than average levels of poor health and disability, high levels of unemployment and low income, poor housing and lack of access to quality services.
The continued attendance and referrals to the hospice endorse the high level of need for specialist care with an average of 300+ new referrals, each year, for day therapy alone. A thriving and successful Day Hospice Service, and Outreach Service, operate from the Woodlands Hospice base as well as the newly established Outpatients Service. As these services have developed and expanded, increasing numbers of patients, and carers, regularly use and gain benefit from them.
Woodlands Hospice remains a dynamic and progressive organisation
responding well to meet today's, tomorrow's, and the future, needs of families
requiring our specialist help.
All care is provided free of charge and the challenge to secure funding for the hospice remains constant - with the majority of our income coming through public donation. As such, we rely upon the generosity of others in order to continue our vital work.