About Us
Woking Hospice opened in Hillview Road, Woking in December 1996 to provide specialist palliative care, advice and support people with life limiting and terminal illnesses in Surrey. Rhod Lofting the Mayor of Woking at the time fund raised to build the Hospice and also the first years running costs.
In 2006, the Sam Beare Unit in Weybridge Hospital was under the threat of closure, and a public consultation was held. The public strongly voted to retain the service in Weybridge, and therefore Woking Hospice were chosen by the PCT to manage the service as an independent charity. It was re- named Sam Beare Hospice and opened in August 2006 under Woking Hospice management.
With both Hospices we now cover a large area incorporating the Boroughs of Woking, Runnymede, Elmbridge, and Spelthorne. This vital service costs in excess of £4.6million per year to run and we are therefore dependant on the community we serve to fund our essential work. Our current "Keeping the Doors Open" campaign highlights just how desperately we need money from the local community and by taking part in the WSB Midnight Walk 2009 you will be helping to support the continued development of Woking & Sam Beare Hospices.
The Hospices offer an atmosphere of peace and hope to ensure that patients feel safe and secure and offer the following services and facilities:
- Medical Care
- In-patient bedded units with en-suite facilities
- Day care units - now reopen one day a week at each Hospice
- Counselling Team
- Chaplaincy Team
- Community Clinical Nurse Specialists
The Medical team and support staff provide specialised, multi disciplinary care for each patient on an individual basis.
All services are provided free of charge and we receive minimal contributions from the NHS, and the majority of funding comes from donations, fundraising activities and our retail shops.
In October 2009 the global financial downturn hit our funding very hard and we were forced to suspend day care services at both Hospices. We launched an Emergency Appeal calling again on the generosity of those who have always kept us going: the community – people like you. Thanks to everyone’s inspiring efforts and generosity we reached our first phase of target of £600,000 additional funds which will enable us to reopen Day Care at the Hospices for one day a week in Spring.
We therefore have to push on with the crucial second phase of the Emergency Appeal which will require even more effort. Until we have reinstated every day of our Day Care services and safeguard our future, there remains an emergency
For more information about the care that we provide, please visit our website www.wsbhospices.co.uk