ST. LUKE'S HOSPICE

St. Luke’s Hospice, based in Nethermayne, Basildon next to the Hospital is widely recognised as being a centre of excellence in offering care for the terminally ill who are in need of pain and symptom control, respite and final care. The majority of patients have cancer and the hospice has built up an enviable reputation of being able to care effectively for complex cancer cases as well as Multiple Sclerosis, Motor Neurone disease, Muscular Dystrophy and HIV /Aids patients. 

St. Luke’s is a non profit making registered charity serving a community with a population of over 350,000 in the Basildon & Thurrock Local Authority Areas in South Essex, including the towns of Billericay, Tilbury, Wickford & Grays. 

Despite an excellent reputation and caring for in excess of 3,700 people a year though various services, the Hospice has to strive hard to achieve the necessary funding to keep services running. Preferring to channel a high level of funding into direct patient care and receiving less than 30% of it’s income from the Local Primary Care Trust for the year 2007/08 St. Luke’s has to raise over a million pounds through its own endeavours towards the £1.8 million estimated running costs. In order to achieve this figure the Hospice has a dedicated team of fundraisers who organise events and incentives as well as support community fundraising, together with 8 retail shops selling donated goods. 

Services provided by St. Luke’s include:- Day Hospice, In-patient Unit (8 beds), Hospice at Home, Out-patient clinic, Children’s Bereavement Service, Adult Bereavement Service, Carers’  support Group, Complementary Therapy dept. as well as Education provision for Health Care Professionals.  Services are offered regardless of age, background, personal or financial circumstances. 
St. Luke’s started as a community project and is still sustained today by the community it serves. If it were not for the generosity and support of local businesses, clubs and individuals the Hospice would not be able to continue to provide a much needed care service.