Since 1976, Dorothy House has been championing compassionate and personalised palliative and end-of-life care.
To mark their 50th anniversary, Hannah Poon reflects on a remarkable journey and the legacies left behind.
Image above: When Prue Dufour founded Dorothy House, her mission was to ensure that
the people of the West Country received compassionate, person-led care in their final days. And that promise still lives on today. Dorothy House can’t add days to life, but they can add life to days.
For most, hospice care arrives during life’s hardest chapter – a time of sadness and uncertainty. Yet for so many who visit Dorothy House’s Day or Inpatient Units, what they find inside defies expectation. Set amongst the rolling hills south of Bath, this is a place of peace, love and laughter.
Most people who have received their care know this, but Nicky Jones understands better than most. For 23 years, she walked into work with a smile. A nurse at Dorothy House, she was there to treat patients with kindness and compassion. But after being diagnosed with motor neurone disease, it was her colleagues’ turn to help her. And Nicky knew better than anyone that with their help, she’d find light in the darkness. At its very heart, Dorothy House is a community: one built on trust, warmth and expertise. Nicky’s story is just one among thousands. Each one is different and deeply personal; and each one is a testament to the work Dorothy House has been doing for half a century.
Where it all began
For 50 years, Dorothy House has provided free, personalised palliative and end-of-life care to thousands of people across Bath and North East Somerset, and parts of Wiltshire. That’s five decades of supporting patients and their families through life’s most challenging moments. When it matters most, the hospice helps people live well, pass peacefully and supports loved ones through bereavement.
Founded in 1976 by Prue Dufour, the hospice was aptly named Dorothy House, meaning ‘gift from God’ to reflect her Christian faith. Her inspiration came from Dame Cicely Saunders, the visionary founder of St Christopher’s House in London, who had reimagined what dying well could look like. Prue caught that spark and carried it to the West Country.
Our reputation for quality care, education, research and innovation continues to earn respect locally, nationally and internationally.”
Wayne de Leeuw
Prue became the UK’s first specialist domiciliary nurse, pulling on her coat and heading out to support people in their own homes – on their terms and in their space. By 1979, her own home in Bath became the first six-bed inpatient unit. Within 10 years, the hospice was bursting at the seams, having grown in size and scope. In 1995, the hospice found a home worthy of its spirit: built on the site of a 17th-century manor house in Winsley, formerly Sutcliffe School for Boys. It was a world away from the strip-lit corridors of a hospital ward.
Prue herself passed away in August 2004, but the hospice she built from sheer will and compassion lives on.
Dr Bridget Wakefield, who was on the original committee, said Prue was a “force to be reckoned with” and that “nobody but her could have got Dorothy House off the ground”.
Today, Dorothy House has evolved from caring for people and their families in their very final moments, to supporting them through their last 1,000 days – and more.
With specialist palliative expertise at its core, the team meets patients wherever they are: at home, in a clinic or in a care home.
Whether providing medical support, complementary therapies or arranging precious memories with loved ones, Dorothy House is there for every step of the journey.
Alongside inpatient care, Hospice at Home – 10 Community Palliative Care Teams work across the local area, ensuring everyone can access the extraordinary support they deserve. Chief Executive Wayne de Leeuw said: “Throughout changes in the broader healthcare landscape, Dorothy House has remained dedicated to its original vision: fostering a society where death is embraced as part of life and communities are equipped to support people in their final days. Our reputation for quality care, education, research and innovation continues to earn respect locally, nationally and internationally.”
Half a century of care
On 1 May, Dorothy House will proudly celebrate its 50th anniversary – a milestone that marks half a century of compassionate care, innovation and community partnership. “Our 50th anniversary is an incredible moment to remember 75,000 lives and deaths supported in that time, to celebrate the people who helped make that possible and to recognise the vital role that Dorothy House and its many partners play in the provision of end-of-life care and will continue to play in the years ahead,” Wayne says. To mark the occasion, the hospice will host an anniversary service at Bath Abbey to remember those they’ve looked after and celebrate those who made it possible.
The celebrations will continue throughout the year, culminating in Moments of Light – a three-month immersive light installation transforming the hospice grounds from 1 October. Created in partnership with renowned artist and ambassador Bruce Munro, it is an invitation to reflect, connect and remember the lives that have shaped five decades of care. But beyond the celebrations, Dorothy House needs your help more than ever before.
As they enter their sixth decade, the need for their work is growing – and so too are the costs. Government funding covers just 20% of its overall outgoings, meaning that for every £1 received, a further £4 must be raised to keep services running.
The hands that hold
While Dorothy House is powered by an extraordinary team – from doctors and healthcare professionals, to volunteers and fundraising teams – nurses are at the centre of the circle of care. Out in the community or at the Inpatient Unit, the nurses work day and night to provide comfort, safety and compassion. They’re the steady, skilled presence at the bedside, the calm at 3am and the hands that hold. They manage pain and ensure that dignity is protected.
Matron Liz Winch said: “When I was growing up, links to the hospice formed early; I used to help my father put up the Bathampton Scouts mess tent in the grounds for events. They also supported a family friend, providing palliative care in the community and on the Inpatient Unit that was truly person-centred. The support extended to her whole family was delivered with dignity, respect and kindness. That experience stayed with me and shaped my values. Care from the hospice is not always what people expect; there is joy and laughter to be found and a focus on what really matters to people.”
A picture paints a thousand words
Creative arts can be a truly powerful tool for patients, carers and families. Art has been proven to help regulate emotions, and for many, it’s a way to express themselves when words fail.
At Dorothy House, creative therapy is used to address the practical, psychological, social and spiritual issues a patient and their family may face throughout the journey of illness. And it’s accessible to everyone who needs it.
Rosalind Gardiner from the Creative Arts team says: “Creative therapy is about experiences, not words. Whether it’s a family coming together to create a keepsake vase, making a hand cast with loved ones, joining other patients or carers and bereaved in the peer support art group, or working one-to-one on the Inpatient Unit, creativity helps participants to process the challenges of illness and bereavement while making art that will take on a greater meaning if made by, or for, a loved one. “Offering an ever-evolving creative menu and being alongside what is often the most challenging time in people’s lives gives me a real sense of fulfilment. It’s honestly the best job I’ve ever had.”
Learning to live
When dad-of-two Matt Sturney, 41, was diagnosed with an incurable brain tumour in May 2023, Dorothy House stepped in to help him and his family.
Dorothy House isn’t just about the end; it’s about the journey and being able to do as much as you can, while you can.”
Matt Sturney
At first, he thought his options were to die quickly or to suffer and die. While the team couldn’t change his prognosis, they helped him see that he could still enjoy life and make memories with his young family. He says: “I’d had a headache for a week when I called 111 and they advised me to go to the hospital. I thought they’d just tell me I was stressed and to drink more water. I was diagnosed with a stage 4 brain tumour that day. Without treatment, I was looking at a few months; with treatment, I was given anywhere from 12 to 18. 35 months later, I’m still here.
“After my prognosis, I was in a really dark place. Initially, I didn’t want the treatment. I didn’t want to suffer and put my wife and two children through that. But Dorothy House made me realise there was still a way to live.
“They gave me counselling, and also my family. I decided to go through with treatment, and Dorothy House helped immensely. They guided me through writing my will, helped me get a Blue Badge and benefits. They provided me with a wheelchair and a handrail so I could get up and down the stairs – things that make my day-to-day life liveable.
“As a family, we’ve spent a lot of time at Dorothy House. My son is nine and my daughter is six, so we want to get them used to the hospice. I’ve opted to spend my final days there, and it brings me great comfort to know the staff will be there for my family when the time comes.
“We’ve taken part in Creative Therapy, and we’ve made a family vase together with bits to represent each of us. We’ve also made hand casts as a family, and I’ve done mine separately, too, so my kids can still hold my hand when I’m gone.
“I’m so grateful to Dorothy House. They’ve given me a quality of life and helped me make the most of the time I have left. As a family, we’ve tried to do what we can to give something back. I took on the Bath City Zipline dressed as Iron Man to raise funds, and my brother will be trekking the Sahara.
“Dorothy House isn’t just about the end; it’s about the journey and being able to do as much as you can, while you can.”
Community champions
Ambassadors play a key role in raising the profile of Dorothy House. Each with their own passion for outstanding end-of-life care, their mission is to help support fundraising and campaigns across our region.
Most recently, they welcomed marketing and communications expert Lizzie Heffer, who is also a key player in Bath’s charity landscape.
As part of her work with Dorothy House, she got dolled up for a glamorous photoshoot to highlight just some of the pre-loved items on sale across the retail stores.
She says: “Dorothy House is one of those rare organisations whose full reach you don’t always see at first, but when it’s needed, their care and support wrap around people in the most extraordinary way.
“For nearly 50 years, it has been there for people across our community, helping them live well right to the end of life, and supporting family and friends in those final days and beyond. So many of us have, in some way, been touched by that support. It becomes part of your story. I became an ambassador because I’ve seen the difference that kind of care makes, and I wanted to play a part in helping more people understand and support it.
“The recent photoshoot I did captured another side of the hospice – one that’s vibrant, creative and full of life. It was part of a campaign to showcase the incredible fashion to be found in their preloved collections. The team styling and photographing the looks created something full of personality and joy.
“These shops are about so much more than great finds; every purchase, donation and hour volunteered enables them to provide the care they give to our community. Dorothy House belongs to all of us. And their future depends on all of us, too.”
Moments of Light installation by Bruce Munro
Treasures that transform lives
With 30 high-street shops and an online store, retail is an integral part of the Dorothy House wheel. Selling high-quality pre-loved items such as clothes, furniture and books, your donations play a vital role in supporting the hospice.
Dorothy House is one of those rare organisations whose full reach you don’t always see at first, but when it’s needed, their care and support wrap around people in the most extraordinary way.”
Lizzie Heffer
As well as community donations, Dorothy House has their own body care and aromatherapy brand, Ubiety. Working with Somerset brand Arcania Apothecary, the range includes a selection of luxurious therapy products designed to help reduce stress.
And last year, Dorothy House launched Threads for Care. In an attempt to reduce waste costs, they’ve partnered with local makers, creatives and stylists to offer upcycled and reworked pieces created from unsaleable items. Found in selected stores, you can purchase totally unique clothing pieces and bespoke bags.
The journey continues
From humble beginnings, Dorothy House has grown into a beloved cornerstone of care in the West Country and beyond. The 50th anniversary is a chance to honour the past and look to the future. The next 50 years will bring a new set of challenges.
As the healthcare system evolves, demand is growing. Meeting this need requires innovation and a shift towards more personalised care. To achieve that, they need funding – now more than ever. As Wayne explains, “Today’s blueprint for end-of-life care simply won’t be sustainable for the next 50 years. The UK – and indeed the world – has an ageing population, and the balance of older to younger people
will shift significantly due to increased life expectancy and fewer children. By 2047, the 85-plus group is expected to have nearly doubled to 3.3 million.
“The status quo will have to change. Dorothy House, along with other healthcare providers, will have to find ways to do things differently; innovating to meet an ever-increasing demand. Giving control back to people, empowering them to shape their own end of life and getting back to nature all fits with the founding philosophy of Dorothy House.
“Since the beginning, we have been working towards a society where death is part of life. That’s our vision for the future. And we’ll do everything we can to make it happen.”
When Prue Dufour founded Dorothy House, her mission was to ensure that the people of the West Country received compassionate, person-led care in their final days. And that promise still lives on today. Dorothy House can’t add days to life, but they can add life to days.
For further information on the services of Dorothy House or for advice or to make a donation contact:
Dorothy House Hospice Care, Winsley, Bradford-on-Avon
BA15 2LE. Tel: 01225 722 988
Dorothy House – Fascinating Facts
• There’s a team of more than 1,200 volunteers
• They cover approximately 800 sq miles
• Princess Anne is a royal visitor
• It costs £4,600 a month to dispose of incomplete or damaged
donations – money that could fund Spiritual Support service
for one month.
Show your support
Here’s how you can get involved and
help raise vital funds:
• Take part in an official event or host your own
• Shop or donate quality pre-loved
items in any of their 30 stores
• Play in their lottery
• Leave a gift in your will using their free will writing service
• Book Moments of Light tickets
• Make a donation
Big or small, your contributions directly go towards
the amazing work of Dorothy House.
To donate or find out how you can get involved,
visit dorothyhouse.org.uk or telephone the fundraising hotline on: 01225 722 988