About the St Christopher's Group
The St Christopher’s Group comprises St Christopher’s Hospice in Sydenham and Harris HospisCare in Orpington. Both hospices care for adults from the age of 18 years upwards.
St Christopher’s Hospice
Founded by Dame Cicely Saunders in 1967 St Christopher’s Hospice was the first modern hospice, now providing the highest quality care to over 2,000 dying individuals each year on our inpatient wards and in people’s own homes.
Dame Cicely‘s vision and work transformed the care of the dying and the practice of medicine. The ongoing impact of St Christopher’s clinical innovations and our extensive programmes of education and research improve care for dying people well beyond our geographical location and influence standards of healthcare throughout the world.
St Christopher’s Hospice offers:
- 48 beds on four wards providing in-patient medical and nursing care led by consultants in palliative medicine and experienced and specially qualified nurses
- Home Care led by clinical nurse specialists in teams focused on each of the five local authorities and primary care trust areas – Bromley, Croydon, Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark
- The Anniversary Centre offers a ‘social hub’ for patients and families, and includes a café with internet access and a programme of social events which is also open to the general public
- Extensive planned day care and a range of supportive care services, including creative and complementary therapies and delivered in a variety of settings
- Inpatient and home care multi-professional teams that include social workers, spiritual care lead, welfare advisors, psychiatrists, physiotherapists, occupational therapist, complementary and creative therapists, bereavement service volunteers and others
- A specialist service for all bereaved children and their families. St Christopher’s Candle Project offers individual and group support, a national telephone advice line, consultancy and training
- Major programmes of education and research including accredited programmes at masters ,degree and diploma levels.
Harris HospisCare with St Christopher’s
Since the merger with St Christopher’s in 2008, Harris HospisCare has been operating as Harris HospisCare with St Christopher’s.
Harris HospisCare with St Christopher’s aims to improve the quality of life of its patients through the provision of specialist palliative care, by supporting their families and carers and by supporting and educating fellow healthcare professionals.
Harris HospisCare offers:
- Home Care led by clinical nurse specialists and medical consultants focused on the South Bromley catchment area. The team also includes a social worker, chaplain, welfare advisor, complementary and creative therapists, bereavement service volunteers and others. Our service is available outside of working hours for urgent medical issues that cannot wait until the morning.
- Extensive planned day care and a range of supportive care services, including creative and complementary therapies
- A specialist and comprehensive lymphoedema service to support patients with lymphoedema across Bromley
