King Charles III opens new hospice for adults with complex palliative care needs
On Thursday, October 26, King Charles III attended Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust’s Priscilla Bacon Lodge Hospice (PBL) to officially open the new facility.
The Royal visit was arranged by the Priscilla Bacon Hospice Charity, which raised £12 million to fund the new hospice.
Upon arriving at the new PBL, the King was greeted by Agnes, a therapy dog who volunteers at the hospice to boost the morale of the patients. The King then attended Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust’s (NCH&C) Breathlessness Clinic in the day unit, where he met outpatients and trust colleagues, followed by a visit to the inpatient unit.
One of the highlights for many NCH&C colleagues was seeing the King meet Rebecca, a 31-year-old inpatient with stage three melanoma. Rebecca’s four-year-old daughter, Arielle, presented King Charles with a paper crown that she had crafted with PBL volunteers that afternoon.
The King then unveiled a commemorative plaque, declaring the new hospice officially open.
During his visit, the King greeted NCH&C CEO Stephen Collman, trust Chair Lynda Thomas, and Director of Strategy & Transformation, Laura Clear. Other figures from the Norfolk & Waveney Integrated Care System also attended the event, including Chair Patricia Hewitt, and Chief Executive Tracey Bleakley.
Priscilla Bacon Lodge Hospice is a specialist unit for adults with complex palliative care needs which cannot be met in their own homes. The centre comprises a short-stay inpatient ward and a state-of-the-art day unit, featuring a gym and counselling and therapy spaces.
NCH&C staff at PBL provide holistic care that incorporates the physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs of patients. The new unit, based on the outskirts of the NNUH campus, replaces the former PBL located on Unthank Road in the city centre.
The palliative care provided at PBL is complemented by community palliative teams, which provide end-of-life and palliative care in patients’ homes.