About Willow Burn

What does Willow Burn Hospice do?

Willow Burn Hospice treasures the lives of people whose illnesses are no longer curable, enabling them to achieve the best quality of life.  Our local hospice services provide a friendly and supportive environment in which everyone feels welcome. Read our published Quality Accounts by clicking here.

Willow Burn Hospice also provides opportunities for people to get involved with their local services through its:

• Shops
• Educational and work placements - through Willow Burn Hospice Volunteering
• Fundraising activities - through Willow Burn Hospice events and community organised events

What is Willow Burn Hospice's past?

Willow Burn Hospice opened in 1989 as a result of two remarkable women, Irene Mortimer and Valerie Davison, who identified a local gap in the service of hospice care and with the support of the Secretary of State set up Day Hospice Care with the help of funding from Macmillan. The Willow Burn Day Hospice service was expanded in 1991 to include In-patient services and up until 2006 these were the only beds available in Durham.

What is Willow Burn Hospice's present?

With its history, Willow Burn Hospice continues to treasure life and provides vital community resources, delivering a positive contribution to the community. Having achieved CHKS accreditation in September 2011 Willow Burn Hospice is well known locally for its commitment to service quality, compassion for the people that it serves and integrity to the community and to the staff and volunteers.

What is Willow Burn Hospice's future?

Willow Burn Hospice once set the precedent for hospice palliative and end of life care in County Durham. Visionary plans are now progressing to build on these foundations. Our aim is to ensure services are sustained in suitable and accessible facilities for the Derwentside and County Durham community for generations to come.

What sort of service can I expect from Willow Burn Hospice?

People can expect to be valued by the staff employed at Willow Burn Hospice and to be given the time that they need when they need it most. They are accorded the respect, privacy and dignity that they would expect of an organisation delivering services to the highest of standards. Responding to people with empathy is second nature to the staff regardless of their field of expertise and this is particularly so when patients and family members are in distress. Service equitability is guaranteed and people are shown understanding of their individual beliefs, lifestyle and culture regardless of their background as a minimum standard.

Willow Burn Hospice has four distinct characteristics which help to guide the way in which services are delivered, including:  

Beneficence - promoting wellbeing and serving the best interest of the patient and their families

Justice - being fair, honest and equitable

Humility - being modest, respectful and compassionate

Courage - standing up against things that are deemed unjust

Who funds Willow Burn Hospice?

Over the years, the hospice has received comparatively small sums of government funding to deliver its services but has survived on the goodwill of voluntary support, local community fundraising activities and the leadership of a small Board of Trustees who are as passionate today about the hospice as they were when they were first recruited.

Most members of the local population have been touched in one way or another by the hospice, either by direct or indirect contact with the facility. This gives the community a real sense of local ownership which is evident in all aspects of the service from patients and their families, fundraising contributions received by the hospice and in the numbers of volunteers gifting their time, skills and knowledge to the facility.

Can I look around Willow Burn Hospice on behalf of my relative?

We are always happy to show carers and those for whom we may be caring around. If you have been referred to our services, please contact Janet Ridley, Clinical Services Manager jridley@willowburnhospice.co.uk

How is the Organisation Governed?

The Board of Trustees are responsible for the governance of the hospice and they form the Council of Management. Their role is to ensure that the Charity functions within the law in accordance with the Charity Commission rules and also that the resources are managed efficiently. They meet monthly and hold an Annual General Meeting (AGM) in September. The Council determines the strategic direction and ensures policies and procedures are in place to manage risk. Various sub-committees, each with Trustee representation, work to monitor the different aspects of the hospice. The Council elects Trustees for a 1-year term of office renewable at the AGM. 

click here for more information of Who's Who -  Willow Burn Hospice Board of Trustees

How can I get involved with the Council of Management?

Opportunities may exist for individuals whose skills will enhance the existing Council and Senior Management Team. We are always happy to talk informally to those interested and if you would like further information on this rewarding and interesting role, please contact the Chief Executive, Helen Mills - hmills@willowburnhospice.co.uk