Welcome to St Christopher's. Here, we have a vision: a world in which all dying people, and those close to them, have access to the care and support they need, when and wherever they need it. This vision shapes us, guiding everything we do, and have done since our founder, Dame Cicely Saunders, developed the modern hospice movement and we began to support patients and their families in 1967. AUDIO
Dame Cicely Saunders was born on 22nd June 1918 in Barnet, Hertfordshire, the eldest of three children. She was educated at the Rodean School in Brighton, before going on to read PPE (Philosophy, Politics and Economics) at St Anne’s College, Oxford. AUDIO
It was during Cicely's time at St Thomas' after World War II that she developed her interest in improving the ways dying people were cared for. AUDIO
Dr Saunders deliberately created the hospice as an independent charity outside the NHS so that she could develop care beyond that required by a national health service. AUDIO
Dr Saunders’ concept of ‘total pain’ and the need to provide physical, social, spiritual and emotional care for dying people underpinned the care provided at St Christopher’s, in south east London. AUDIO
The realisation of St Christopher's was led by Cicely, but an incredible team of people was involved: When setting up St Christopher’s, Dr Saunders employed many people she knew and trusted, including former colleagues, friends, and patients’ family members who she saw would be a good fit for the hospice. AUDIO
Between 1967 and 1985 Dr Saunders was Medical Director at the hospice. During this time the work of St Christopher’s gained international recognition and affirmed the work Cicely had undertaken in preparation for its opening. AUDIO
In 1969 Dr Mary Baines, a GP who had trained in medicine at St Thomas’ Hospital with Cicely and worked locally to the hospice before joining the staff, began the first home care service with Barbara McNulty, a nursing sister based on Alex Ward. AUDIO
Dame Cicely’s intention was for patients and the people who support them to have the right care so that total pain, the concept she had described before 1967, could be addressed. AUDIO
Dame Cicely wanted the hospice to be open to all; for it to feel part of the community, not simply a place to hide away the dying. AUDIO
Education has always been an integral part of St Christopher’s mission. Dame Cicely wanted to ensure excellent end of life care was available to all; this meant training and educating others to understand its importance and know the best way to provide such care. AUDIO
Dame Cicely Saunders recognised the inadequacy of the care of the dying that was offered in hospitals. So often, patients and families were told that “there was nothing more that could be done” a statement that Dame Cicely refused to accept. AUDIO
The impact of Dame Cicely's vision can still be felt today. Her pioneering approach, emphasis on education and the crucial need for good palliative care to be available around the world can all be seen in the work and outlook of the incredible nurses we're celebrating as part of our 'Pioneering Nurses' initiative. AUDIO
The hospice only receives a third of its funding from the UK’s National Health Service. Every year St Christopher’s needs to fundraise £15million to be able to continue to provide its crucial services. AUDIO
Want to know more? Explore The Voices that Shaped Us: Modern Hospice in the Making
