“Isabel Hospice”

Isabel Hospice ~ 40 years of Caring for the Local Community

Isabel Hospice was founded in 1982 by Isabel Last in Welwyn Garden City. Isabel herself lived with cancer for 18 years. She gathered around her the first Board of Trustees who had the vision and expertise to establish the Welwyn Hatfield Hospice Service.

The first two specialist nurses were appointed in 1984 using their training and knowledge to help patients in that area. The Hospice spread very quickly to cover a catchment area from Welwyn Garden City to Bishop’s Stortford, north to Buntingford and south to Waltham Cross, a population of around 360,000.

In 1986 the first building of the Hospice was opened in Hall Grove, Welwyn Garden City, to house a Day Hospice and a base for the growing team of nurse specialists, who covered every town and village in Eastern Hertfordshire. The In-Patient Unit was opened in 1990 with 10 beds and extended in 2001.

In 1994 the Hospice name was changed to Isabel Hospice in honour of our founder.

Over the years, the Hospice has extended its services to include Hospice at Home, Bereavement Services, and Family Support. This is very much a community service reaching out to the whole population with care for patients and their families.

This special care can be provided in the patient’s home, at our Living Well Centres, or at our In-Patient Unit. Most people we care for have cancer, but we are caring increasingly for patients who have other life-threatening illnesses.

Our 600 volunteers play a vital role in supporting the Hospice, whether by working in the In-Patient Unit, the three Living Well Centres, supporting the administration center, volunteering in the 15 hospice shops, fundraising, and gardening. They are the lifeblood of our organisation.

Isabel Hospice is very much a local charity, and each year, we care for hundreds of people across Eastern Hertfordshire. All of services are given free, but they are not without cost, we have to raise £7 million every year to guarantee the future of our care.

We help people to live pain and symptom-free so they can make the most of the time they have left and die with dignity in the place of their choice, knowing their loved ones are supported.

Your support will help us to continue to give that vital care.

For more information about the work of Isabel Hospice & how you can help, please contact:

cheryl.cusack@isabelhospice.org.uk   01707 382 500

www.isabelhospice.org.uk         Registered Charity Number 1046826