40 Years of Caring

For the last forty years, the charity has been there to support the Cambridgeshire community to make every moment count. 

About Us Hospice Tour

Our Ruby Anniversary

Celebrating the years that have gone before, gives us the chance to reflect on the thousands of patients we have supported during that time, and the many ways in which we have been there to assist them and their families – a caring hand to guide them through holistic care plans; creating strong relationships to support people to achieve their end-of-life wishes.

Helping patients to live fully and achieve a good death has always been our goal. We strive for outstanding care and have been supported by the most wonderful and skilled colleagues. We have partnered with organisations who have helped shape our services, and groups and individuals who have raised significant funds. Those funds have contributed to our history of establishing purpose-built hubs and investing in our care services. We have expanded significantly over the last forty years, increasing our in-patient unit beds from just 12, at the original site at Arthur Rank House, to 23 at our current Hospice. Recognising the need for our care in the community to reach the greatest proportion of our patients, we have extended our reach to the north of the county through the Alan Hudson Day Treatment Centre and are supporting many more patients in their own homes in the north and the south.

Our community have continued to support us through recessions, political changes and, more recently, the pandemic. We could not have achieved all that we have without the help from individuals, dedicated families, local businesses and larger organisations. At this moment, as we take a pause, we would like to say “thank you” wholeheartedly for being there for us. As we turn to our next chapter, covered by our latest five-year strategy, and continue to face the current uncertainties, we are so grateful to have you here with us. #TeamArthur.

Sponsor  a Nurse

Nurses have been at  the core of our hospice care throughout our history and continue to be a significant proportion of our workforce. They need to have many skills, frequently caring for more people with very complex medical needs. Our compassionate clinical teams comprise of 73 nurses and a further 76 healthcare professionals, including Healthcare Assistants, Doctors and Consultants.

Due to an aging population, there will be far greater demand for these services in the future. By 2040, the number of people dying in England is expected to have increased by 25%. This, in turn, is likely to see the number of people with advanced illnesses and those requiring the support of a hospice at the end of life grow, and we recognise nurses will be vital in meeting this need.

In celebration of our 40th anniversary, we are asking our supporters to sponsor a nurse. Regular donations will help to fund the important work of our nurses now, and help us to care for people in the future. Our next chapter needs your ongoing support; it will be very much valued by us all but, more crucially, by those we will  care for.

Sponsor a Nurse

History Timeline

2022 - Palliative Care Hub phoneline expands to 24hour service

In 2022 our Palliative Care Hub phoneline expands to a 24 hour servcie. The phoneline is a free out of hours phone service available to patients, relatives, friends and all healthcare professionals. Providing specialist advice and support to those with life limiting illnesses

The Help at Hand community app launched providing a website and mobile app to help the community access practical and emotional support. 

Also the Palliative Care Hub out of hours free phone service launched

The Charity delivers a new Palliative Care module for Anglia Ruskin University MA students

Caring Communities, first volunteer starts before the COVID-19 pandemic moves services to remote engagement

Hospice at Home expands to include Day and Night Care Retail Hub open

The Alan Hudson Day Treatment Centre starts Community  Specialist Palliative Care Service and the First president appointed

HRH Prince Edward officially opened the new hospice and the first patients were welcomed to the new *Day Therapy (*later renamed Living Well 2021)

New Cottenham Charity Shop opens and is still supported by lots of visitors.

MND clinic runs hosts first session at the Hospice (previously held at Addenbrookes Hospital)

New Hospice Building Opens at Shelford Bottom and later wins East Awards ‘Community Benefit’ Award and ‘Project of the Year the Education and Conference Centre hosts 1st clients

7 May Work starts on new Hospice building

1 August Hospice becomes independent August Arthur Rank Hospice takes over management of Hudson Centre  in Wisbech (since renamed as  Alan Hudson Day Treatment Centre)

14 December Topping out ceremony at  new Hospice

Furniture shop moves  to former Romsey Mill Labour Club

22 December Planning permission granted for new Hospice

25 November Site for new hospice at Shelford Bottom announced

We rebranded to our current logo keeping our slogan ‘Making Every Moment Count’ 

Furniture Shop opens in former Royal Standard pub on Mill Road

Mill Road Charity Shop opens and Arthur Rank Hospice Charity  becomes a Company Limited by Guarantee

New Arthur Rank Hospice Charity logo introduced

External funding for Hospice at Home withdrawn;  Arthur Rank Hospice Charity  agrees to take service on.

Library opens after a fundraising campaign by Saffron Walden Golf Club.

November 2002 Prince Charles visits.

Friends of Arthur Rank becomes Arthur Rank Hospice Charity

4 October Jo Lustig garden opened by Sir Derek Jacobi

June Bernard Reiss Centre opened  by the Marchioness of Zetland

September  Bernard Reiss Centre officially  opens to day therapy patients

Regent Street shop opens

Hospice at Home set up, with initial funds from NHS 

Marie Curie Fundraising starts for Bernard Reiss Centre (Day Therapy)

April – Lymphoedema Clinic set  up as pilot study

Friends logo introduced

First newsletter for the friends  of Arthur Rank House &  Brookfields hospital published

Dame Cicely Saunders gives a talk in Cambridge to mark the beginning of a new Hospice presence

5 May Completed building handed over

14 May First patients welcomed to Hospice

15 October  Official opening by the Duchess of Kent Friends of Arthur Rank House and
 Brookfields hospital formed by Dr David Bratherton (first Medical Director)

First sod for new Hospice  site at Brookfields cut  by Sheila Hancock Topping out ceremony  by Lady Todd

Discussions start about hospice provision in Cambridge