The history of the Mary Stevens Hospice
If you don’t mind, we’d just like to start by taking a quick trip through history.
It all began, back in 1925, when Mary Stevens, the wife of one of Stourbridge’s greatest benefactors died. Her husband Ernest purchased White Hall, in Pedmore, with its 10 acres of land. He demolished its buildings and built a maternity home, which he named after his wife. In 1931, the home was given by deed of gift to the borough of Stourbridge.
The late Alderman George Griffiths and Dr Kate Rogers, both ex-mayors of Dudley, saw the need for a hospice in the borough of Dudley. So, during 1986, the Mary Stevens Hospice was registered as a charitable trust (no. 517656), with the aim of establishing a day unit to care for the terminally ill within the Metropolitan Borough of Dudley and the surrounding districts.
So fundraising began in 1986, with the aim of raising £1million so a day care unit could be built, which was eventually completed in 1991. The day care unit, registered for 15 patients per day, was open to receive patients in November 1991, for two days a week. It was officially opened by Diana, Princess of Wales, in March 1992. By April 1993, the unit was open for five days a week.
In November 1993, an appeal was launched to raise £1.25million to build a 10-bed residential unit. The building of this residential unit was finished in December 1998, and fitted out at a further cost of £250,000 for equipment. The first patients were admitted in August 1999.
In 2015, building of a first floor extension was completed, which now houses our Family Support team. All existing in-patient areas were refurbished and upgraded so that all patients now have their own individual room, the majority of which with their own en-suite facility.
Which leads us to now.
Professional staff are on hand to spend time with patients, addressing their individual holistic, nursing, medical, psychological, social and spiritual needs.
The team of doctors, nurses, physiotherapists and volunteers offers a full range of clinical services.
We want to continue growing and supporting those who need us.