The Cicely Saunders Institute of Palliative Care
A key objective of Cicely Saunders International is to establish the world's first institute of palliative care, a centre of excellence housing research, education, information provision and clinical care. The Cicely Saunders Institute of Palliative Care will bring together academics, healthcare professionals, community organisations, patients and carers in one centre and will act as the hub for a network of international research. By providing a comprehensive approach to the physical, social and psychological needs of people with progressive illness, the Institute's research will feed quickly and directly into practice and policy around the world - improving palliative care and enabling people to live better, with dignity and the least possible suffering.
The Institute will be situated next to King's College Hospital, which currently provides high-quality palliative care for patients in South East London and the surrounding area. The Institute will integrate this care with teaching and research, creating a multi-professional environment examining every aspect of palliative care.
King's College London, our academic partner at the Institute, is the largest provider of healthcare education in Europe and has an international portfolio of research. Its Department of Palliative Care, Policy and Rehabilitation has an international reputation for teaching and research. The multi-faculty nature of King's will ensure that the profile of palliative care research and education is truly multidisciplinary and will reach a broad audience.
The building will be a welcoming and peaceful environment, sensitively designed with advice from Macmillan Cancer Support and in consultation with potential users and local patient groups such as Black Cancer Care. Ongoing user involvement should ensure that patients and their carers are able to guide and participate in our vision for the Institute and its future use.
Research at the Institute
Education and training
Clinical services and Information Support Centre
“ Inside, the challenge is to stay real and grounded, unfussy but at the same time warm and welcoming. We users will arrive with a welter of needs – physical, mental, emotional and spiritual…Some will be amazingly buoyant and optimistic, others stunned that suddenly life is short. Yet others will be looking for relief and support while going through a bad patch, yearning to emerge and put life together again. The impressions I have in my mind are about ebb and flow, not being sucked in or blown out, but being held long enough to make good decisions for oneself and others we love…”
Feedback from a potential user
Planning permission for construction of The Cicely Saunders Institute of Palliative Care has been received and work is scheduled to start on site in January 2008.