About Us
The Hospice was opened in August 1982 as part of the National Health Service as a result of a public appeal in memory of the Island's Governor, Lord Louis Mountbatten, who was murdered in 1979. The money raised was used to convert the West Wight Ward of the Fairlee Infectious Disease Hospital. It provided ten beds and was called the Earl Mountbatten House Continuing Care Unit.
In 1983 a charitable trust was established to support the Continuing Care
Unit. The charity was a source of funding additional resources for the
Unit and over the years was the means by which volunteers were enrolled
into working within Earl Mountbatten House.
In 1987 a day unit was opened, again as a result of a public appeal, which was underwritten by Macmillan Cancer Relief. In the event the money for providing the day unit was raised on the Island and money was not required from Macmillan.
In 1992 the charitable trust assumed responsibility for Earl Mountbatten House and the title of the charity and the unit was changed to Earl Mountbatten Hospice. 1992 saw the start of work to alter and extend the existing buildings.
By 1998 it was obvious that the Hospice had again run out of space. The solution was to build a new 18 bed ward and convert the existing accommodation to increase the day care facilities to provide a proper out-patient suite, treatment areas for physiotherapy, complementary therapies, pamperers etc. The opportunity has also been taken to supply a new on-site kitchen to provide meals for patients and staff. The work on the new ward commenced in March 2004 and opened in April 2005. The increased size of the ward obviously means higher nursing and drug costs, so we need to raise nearly £2m each year to be able to provide these services to the Island.
Following discussions in February 2006 it was agreed that the management
of palliative care services on the Island should rest with the Hospice.
The Marie Curie nurses were therefore transferred from the Primary Care
Trust and the Macmillan Hospital & Community Team were transferred
from the Healthcare Trust.
The funding of the Marie Curie nurses continues as before, with the Marie Curie Charity funding 50% of the cost and the PCT funding the remainder. The financial arrangements for the Macmillan service follows the national system whereby Macmillan Cancer Relief fund posts for the initial three years and then the National Health Service assumes responsibility. As all the five posts on the Island have been established in excess of three years the funding is now through the PCT.
