PERSPECTIVES
An oasis of care The Sue Ryder hospice, currently housed in Peterborough’s landmark Thorpe Hall, is an essential part of the local community. Sue Dobson reports
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nly the distant hum of traffic on the parkway tells of a world beyond the parkland, trees and lovely gardens that stretch as far as the eye can see. It’s hard to believe that Peterborough’s busy city centre is a short distance away from Thorpe Hall, the stately landmark building that has stood firmly in Longthorpe for over 350 years and for 21 years has been home to the Sue Ryder hospice. Inside the grand Hall there’s friendly and welcoming atmosphere amid the mix of bustling activity and gentle tranquillity. I meet Philip Ball, the Palliative Care Services Manager, in his third floor office with what must be the best view in Peterborough. A nurse with over 20 years’ experience of hospice and palliative care, he is responsible for the clinical and support services at Thorpe Hall. “We have 20 beds here with a big team of specialist doctors and nurses providing personalised, short-term care for people who have incurable illnesses, including cancer and heart and kidney failure,” he explains. For some it is end of life care; many more will return home after their stay. It’s not only the patients who receive loving care here. Support is on hand for their families and carers, too. For children who have lost a parent there’s the Charlie Chimp club. “A big toy chimpanzee, Charlie is a mascot. Children talk to him. He’s a very good listener. The club is a way for children to meet others going through the experience of loss and to talk about their feelings, so they feel less isolated.” There’s also Wayfinders, a friendly walking group that encourages bereaved adults to
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get some fresh air in Ferry Meadows, with the opportunity to talk to bereavement support volunteers if they wish. “We have a day centre in the west wing that’s attended by people from the local community with long term neurological conditions,” Philip continues. “It offers a range of personalised activities from creative crafts, music sessions and aromatherapy to days out swimming, sailing, shopping and socialising in a pub.” Philip talks of how much he values the contribution of the 180 volunteers at Thorpe Hall. It’s a theme I hear time and again from everyone I meet there.
Future plans In-patient accommodation spans two floors of the Hall, with a mix of two- and three-bed rooms. They are light, airy and well equipped, there are lovely lounges and nicely furnished quiet rooms, but it’s clear that the layout of the old building is not ideal and its listed status limits changes. So plans are afoot to build a new in-patient unit on unused land behind the west wing. Planning permission has been granted for a single storey building with 20 rooms in four L-shaped areas. Each room will be en-suite and have doors opening onto a patio garden; there’ll be a new chapel and workspace for the doctors and nurses. Building work is due to begin early in 2014. Now all they have to do is raise £6 million! It currently costs £2.2million a year to run Thorpe Hall and at least £1million of that has to come from fundraising. “The Starlight Hike (on
September 8th this year), previously known as the Midnight Walk, is our biggest event of the year,” says event fundraiser Alison Toomey. “It’s a 10km walk around the east of the city and it’s a really good night out. We’re expecting around 1000 men and women to join us this year.” Other big events include the black-tie Beef and Beer evening, Glamour Galore pamper party, the Jail Break challenge and Lights of Love at Christmas. Sponsored group walks include the Jurassic Coast, Great Wall of China and the Peru Inca Trail. “We get wonderful support from local businesses,” Alison tells me, “ranging from making us their charity of the year to gifts in kind and corporate volunteering.” I see the results of some of these team-building volunteer activities, from refurbished quiet rooms to the garden created so all the flowerbeds are at wheelchair height. Individual giving is important, too. “We value every £1,” says fundraiser Julie Laithwaite. “Local people support us in so many ways. They’ve kept us going for 21 years!” Thorpe Hall is a special place. The magnificent gardens are open to everyone during working hours, the cheerful coffee shop with its sunny courtyard is great for a relaxing break or light lunch and there’s a plant stall and shop to visit. The Hall is even licensed for civil weddings. • Thorpe Hall Hospice, Thorpe Road, Peterborough PE3 6LW. Tel: 01733 330060. www.sueryder.org
NENE VALLEY LIVING SEPTEMBER 2012
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