Grove House history

Over 15 years  of caring

Early in the 1980's it became clear to local individuals, nurses and doctors, including Dr Mary Groves, that more was needed for those who were terminally ill in our community.

Largely through the work of devoted volunteers, Grove House began with the appointment of the first Macmillan Nurse, the Hospice care team, and two care groups. Over time a social worker, volunteer counsellors, a part-time physiotherapist and home care volunteers joined the team. Still, much more was needed, including a suitable home for the charity.

Six years later, thanks to Dr Groves' passionate commitment, the energetic patronage of Lord Runcie (former Bishop of St.Albans and Archbishop of Canterbury), the support of Macmillan Cancer Relief and the dedication of many healthcare professionals and volunteers, the vision became a reality and the Macmillan Runcie Day Hospice opened its doors for the first time in 1994.

Within a very short time the Macmillan Runcie Day Hospice services were widely accessed by people affected by cancer and other life threatening illnesses. The services available were in the main Day Hospice 4 days a week for 16 patients per day, a Cancer Information and Support centre 3 days a week and Social Work Department offering Family Support Services and Bereavement Counselling.

At the end of 1998, the charity conducted a comprehensive service review in order to consolidate on what had been achieved and evaluate whether the resources could be made available more widely to more people. The outcome of the review demonstrated that there was a need in the community to respond to people with cancer at all stages of their disease. Taking day hospice as a model of what can be made available to patients, we aimed to offer the same services, independently from day hospice on an outpatient basis, as individual treatments and consultations.

One of the issues which was brought to our attention during our dialogue with Primary Care and other Palliative Care Agencies was the fact that it was very difficult for Healthcare Professionals to refer patients to a "Hospice" particularly at an early stage of their disease. People still view Hospices as a place where they should only go when they are in the terminal stage of their disease.

We renamed the overall organisation Grove House, including the Robert Runcie Day Hospice.

We then conducted a series of presentations to all GP practices in St Albans, Harpenden and Hemel Hempstead. This exercise proved very successful indeed and resulted in a huge increase in referrals to Grove House.

The flexibility of the service providing, quick access to a specialist service of the highest standard, has responded to the day-to-day needs of patients, their carers and the healthcare professionals who care for them. By the end of 2000 our service activity had increased by 65%. We saw a further increase of 31.7% in 2001 and figures have steadily increased since. The figures demonstrate that the increase in the use of the services is mainly due to the access of the new outpatient clinics.

We have increasingly supported patients and carers in their own homes too, with home treatments and visits from our clinical team and volunteers. We now aim to establish a 24-hour hospice at home nursing team, too.

While services have developed over the years, helping many more patients at all stages of illness, Grove House adheres passionately to its original ethos: We warmly welcome each patient, we listen carefully and take the time to get to know them, so we can give each person the specialist care, comfort and support they need, whether physical or emotional, social or spiritual.

Milestones for Grove House:

• 1981: Evolving community care leading to the vision for the Day Hospice.
• 1991 - 1994: Lord Runcie leads the fundraising appeal
• 1994: Macmillan Runcie Day Hospice opens including skilled day care, social work, counselling, information and support, with an incorporated base for the Macmillan team. Official opening by the Duchess of Kent.
• 1998: Service review results in new outpatient services.
• 1999: Cancer the Next Step support course starts for patients with primary cancer.
• 2000: Name changes to Grove House incorporating the Robert Runcie Day Hospice. Referrals increase by 65%.
• 2001: Specialist palliative care services offer 8,000 treatments and consultations each year, serving a population of 266,000 in Dacorum, St. Albans & Harpenden districts.
• 2002: First paid Spiritual Care Co-ordinator appointed
• 2003: 39 Volunteers awarded for long service.
• 2004: Grove House takes on financial independence from Macmillan & must fundraise 80% of core costs.
• 2004: Grove House provides over 150 patient consultations each week.
• 2004: launch of GH at Home volunteer visiting services.
• 2006: GH at Home extends to Dacorum Distrcit.
• 2008: Building extension/improvements.
• 2009: Hospice at Home (H@H) day-time nursing service starts in part of St. Albans & Harpenden.
• 2009: HRH the Duke of Gloucester officially opens extension & H@H.

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