A blessing and a barbecue marked the first birthday of the new Priscilla Bacon Lodge in Norwich.
The Bishop of Norwich joined patients and their families, staff and volunteers, at the new hospice – opened last year by King Charles following a £14.3m fundraising campaign.
The Bishop of Norwich the Rt Rev Graham Usher, who blessed the site during construction, said: “To see the vision come to fruition is just amazing.” Thanking all involved, he talked about the healing power of nature and the solace of gardens which come right to the door of patients’ rooms. “These hospices are so, so important in our national life, and yet are so underfunded. They are helping people to live well and to die well,” he said.
Last year’s Bishop of Norwich Lent appeal raised almost £18,000 for the hospice in memory of The Venerable Ian Bentley, Archdeacon of Lynn.
Hospice chaplain the Revd Helen Garrard was a specialist palliative care nurse at the old Priscilla Bacon Lodge hospice for more than 15 years before becoming its chaplain.
She loves the new building and said: “There is so much to give thanks for – the ever-changing beauty of the landscaped gardens and fields beyond, the pleasure patients and families take in such a close connection to creation and the calm that brings them.”
She said she had ‘deeply honoured’ to speak the King in the beautiful chapel of the new hospice. “But most of all the memories are of the unending care which the whole team of medical and non-medical staff give day in, day out to some of our most vulnerable people, making the darkest days seem just a little brighter.”
Her role as lead chaplain for Norfolk community hospitals is to provide pastoral, spiritual and religious care to patients, their families and members of staff.
“I think patients, families and staff value having someone who is both within the healthcare system but in some ways beyond it,” she said. “Bringing a narrative of faith into a secular organisation can have its challenges; although most of my encounters may not look like more formal ‘ministry’ I represent and am deeply rooted in a faith which sees a life beyond this, a peace beyond suffering and a joy beyond tears – being able to hold this as a light to those who are searching can be of great comfort to people.
“I enjoy being able to offer support when it is most needed, to give patients, families and staff a sense that they are not alone and that their story is heard, understood and valued. If I can support people in making meaning of their story or experience and in feeling a little more prepared or at peace with what they are facing I feel I have been of some use to them.”
But there are challenges too. “I spend a lot of time supporting people who are very distressed in body, mind and spirit. It can be difficult to be alongside suffering,” said Helen. “Additionally, as with most aspects of healthcare work, there is usually more work than people or time to deliver it. It can be difficult to know where I am most needed!”
She is supported by a team of honorary chaplains and chaplaincy volunteers.
The hospice, close to the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, offers a state-of-the-art palliative care unit, inpatient beds, a day unit and a well-being centre, and is a hub for services helping people to receive care in their own homes. Its running costs are funded by the NHS, with additional well-being therapies provided by the Priscilla Bacon Hospice Charity.
The hospice is named after Priscilla, Lady Bacon, who led the fundraising campaign for the original Priscilla Bacon Lodge on Unthank Road, Norwich. Her daughter-in-law is now patron of the charity.
