Around 80 Southern Area Hospice staff gathered at the Canal Court in Newry on Thursday, October 10, to celebrate 35 years of service in the local community.
The special event marked a significant milestone in the history of Southern Area Hospice, which officially opened its doors in 1989, originally as a self-contained six-bed unit in Newry.
Today, the charity provides specialist palliative care to 1,000 patients annually across the area of the Southern Health and Social Care Trust, through its Inpatient Unit, Community Services and Out-of-Hours Nursing Care At Home project.
Shaun Doran, Managing Director of Health Matters, sponsor of the event, commented: “The Southern Area Hospice has been an integral part of providing compassionate care for the past 35 years.
“Health Matters were proud to support this special event to celebrate the incredible dedication of the Hospice staff who continue to make such a positive difference in the lives of so many.”
Liz Cuddy, CEO of Southern Area Hospice also thanked all the Hospice staff, past and present, for their dedication and commitment to the Hospice.
She said: “Over the past 35 years the Hospice has achieved so much. It has been able to expand its services so that we can continue to provide specialist palliative care to those who need it. All of this is possible because of everyone who works for or has worked for the Hospice.
“I want to pay tribute to them all and thank them for their commitment and hard work – it is they who make the Hospice the compassionate and caring organisation that it is.”
