Lewis-Manning Hospice Care announced that they are relocating to central Poole, following the sale of their building at Crichel Mount which has been purchased by local charity and care home operator, Care South.
Jeremy Allin, Chairman of Lewis-Manning Hospice Care said “Lewis-Manning Hospice Care are sincerely grateful to Care South for granting a license to enable us to stay at Crichel Mount for up to 6 months while adjustments are made to our new home at Longfleet in order to make it fully fit for our purposes and we hope to make the move into Poole early in 2020.”
The new more centralised premises located in Longfleet Road, Poole, will enable the Hospice to provide a convenient location for people at the end of their lives, within easy access of transport networks, closer to Poole Hospital with excellent parking facilities. The move is planned for early 2020, allowing for renovation to their new home in order to make it fully fit for purpose.
This exciting news comes as Lewis-Manning Hospice Care plan to continue delivering their well-established day hospice and clinics in Poole, whilst expanding their services, providing new and vital support into the community, working alongside Community Hospitals, Care Homes and GP Practices. These inspiring plans for future expansion include the opening of new day hospice services, as well as better breathing clinical services one day per week in local towns across the area starting in Wareham and Swanage, then expanding across East Dorset, bringing end of life care closer to home.
Clare Gallie, CEO Lewis-Manning Hospice Care, said: “This is an exciting step for Lewis-Manning Hospice Care and it endorses our commitment to the local people and the community that we serve, support and care for. As we move forward, we are delighted to have been joined by five new Trustees, expanding our Board and bringing a broad range of experience and knowledge. Together we hope to open even more local hospice services
and work within communities further afield to help more people at the end of their lives, closer to their homes.
Clare continues: “The move follows the difficult decision in April 2019 to close our 6 bed inpatient unit (which cost us £1.2 million per year to operate) due to funding sustainability in an area where other local hospices that are largely funded by the NHS are providing similar bedded services. Our unique day hospice and support clinics remain fully open for people needing end of life support and together with our staff and Board of Trustees we are now developing our three year strategy as well as plans to expand the work we do across the East Dorset community, delivering our exceptional trusted hospice care where it is really needed, closer to home and we are delighted to share endorsements from those who support”
Clare continues, “It costs nearly £1.3 million to run our charitable Hospice each year, we receive just 20% of our income from the NHS. I would like to ask the people of east Dorset to help us to deliver these new services by supporting us with a gift of just £5 per month, by asking the companies that they work at to support us, or by holding a fundraising event. Together we can help to improve local end of life care for those that really need it. ”
Eugine Yafele, Chief Executive of Dorset Healthcare, said: “We are delighted to be working with Lewis-Manning Hospice Care, by delivering more end of life services across our community and there will be clear benefits to local people at the end of their lives.”
The move into the community has been welcomed by key partners including Dorset Commissioners, Patrons and volunteers.
Tim Goodson, Chief Officer at Dorset CCG said: “I am pleased that Lewis-Manning Hospice Care is taking its valuable services out into our community to benefit people closer to home.”
Angus Campbell a supporter of the charity and Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant for Dorset said: “As a Patron of Lewis-Manning Hospice Care, I am delighted to support such an inspired plan to develop wider hospice care services and bring them closer to the people of Dorset by reaching out into our wider community. I would hope that this is the start of a new and exciting evolution in such essential services.”
Philip Warr, The High Sheriff of Dorset said, “Having chosen Lewis-Manning Hospice Care as one of my charities this year I am pleased to support their plans to bring end of life services closer to where people really need them, closer to home. These important services will be of huge benefit to our community.”
Felicity Irwin DL Chairman of Care South, , said “We are delighted to have had the opportunity to assist Lewis-Manning Hospice Care and Care South will ultimately open a dedicated residential care home on the site for frail elderly residents. This is an acquisition which is very pleasing and we will continue the association by it being known as ‘Marjorie House’ – Marjorie Lewis-Manning being the founding benefactor of the Lewis-Manning charity”.
Photo: Clare Gallie, CEO Lewis-Manning Hospice Care with Dorset High Sheriff, Philip Warr and one of Lewis-Manning Hospice Cares’ new Trustees and former employee Dr Linda Thompson taken at 56 Longfleet Road, Poole, September 2019