Many great leaders have acknowledged the value of looking back in history in order to better understand the opportunities of the present, and to plan a strong future.
This talk attempts the same, looking back on some of the history of hospice and palliative care in order to assist participants identify priorities for the future of this important area of care. There are strong arguments to support ongoing investment in advancing and improving palliative and end of life care, but the questions of where to focus effort and how often remain unclear.
To answer those questions, this session will consider the work of St Christopher's Hospice in the UK over the last half decade, with particular attention to the nature and models of care it has provided and their impact. It will consider the relationship of the hospice with wider systems of palliative, health and social care, including hospitals, and the benefits and challenges of integration. Attention will also be given to its different strategic priorities and leadership styles over the years and the degree to which these have influenced progress. The year 2025 marks 20 years since Dame Cicely Saunders, founder of St Christopher's and the modern hospice movement died, and so some attention will be drawn to her work and legacy, as guidance regarding future direction and effort.
This talk is not designed to position the work of St Christopher's as a blueprint for the future of palliative care. Infact, the case will be made for quite the opposite. The experiences of life, death, loss and caring in the UK are arguably poor currently for many people, and much work is required to increase the value of death in the ways we live, our policies, professional practices and organisational priorities. This talk invites new conversations and shared learning across countries and systems to improve how people live, die and grieve in our organisations and societies in the future.
