About Dr Kershaw’s Hospice
Dr Kershaw’s Hospice was opened in 1989 following the conversion and development of a 1930’s Cottage Hospital originally built with a legacy from Dr John Kershaw, a local GP and Medical Officer of Health. The Hospice has recently undergone a major building programme of expansion and refurbishment that offers high quality patient accommodation.
The Hospice provides specialist palliative care for adults with non-curable, life-limiting illnesses in a peaceful and homely environment. Palliative care is an area of healthcare that focuses on relieving and preventing the suffering of patients. Palliative care is appropriate for patients at all disease stages, including those undergoing treatment for symptom control or rehabilitation as well as patients who are nearing the end of life.
The medical and nursing staff are experienced in palliative medicine and are supported by a Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) of specialist nurses, allied health professionals, social workers, spiritual counsellors and bereavement support workers who assist in providing a seamless service for patients across hospital, community and hospice boundaries. This multidisciplinary approach allows the palliative care team to address the physical, emotional, spiritual, and social concerns that arise with advanced illness.
Dr Kershaw’s Hospice is an independent Hospice and a registered charity (Charity No. 1105924). It is partially funded by the NHS, however, the major part of the annual budget is supported by fund-raising activities, donations, legacies, income from the Hospice shops and revenue from the Hospice lottery.
The Hospice serves a population of some 230,000 people drawn from Oldham and its surrounding districts. It enjoys a close working relationship with the Oldham Primary Care Trust and the Pennine Acute NHS Trust.
Patient accommodation comprises an inpatient unit of 12 beds and a day care wing providing facilities for a maximum of 20 patients each week-day.
All patient accommodation has recently been refurbished, fully complies with current legislation and provides a comfortable and calm environment for patients.
The Hospice is inspected annually by the Care Quality Commission and its report is available on request.