2004 - 2007 - Cicely Saunders Institute - King's College London

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The Cicely Saunders
Institute of Palliative Care
The Department is working with Cicely Saunders
International, King's College London and associated
hospitals to establish the world’s first purpose built
institute of palliative care, a centre of excellence housing
research, education, information, support 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.
held a number of meetings involving local patient groups
such as Black Cancer Care, along with a user
involvement workshop. We hope that these activities will
ensure that patients and their carers can guide and
participate in our vision for the Institute.
Building plans are now well advanced. The first brick will
be laid in 2008, with completion of the building
anticipated in 2009. On the ground floor we will be
displaying some of the letters, photographs and books
of Dame Cicely Saunders which are held in the King’s
College London Specialist Archive at the Strand
campus. We are very grateful to the private individuals,
foundations and other donors who have contributed so
far to the project, including: The Garfield Weston
Foundation, The Wolfson Foundation, Macmillan Cancer
Support, Atlantic Philanthropies, PF Charitable Trust and
The Kirby Laing Foundation.
Cicely Saunders International is an international charity
created in 2002 by Dame Cicely Saunders, the founder of
the modern hospice movement. Cicely Saunders
International supports high-quality research and
education to improve the care and treatment of all people
with progressive illness, helping them to reach the end of
their lives with dignity and with the least possible
suffering see www.cicelysaundersfoundation.org.
The Institute will be a welcoming and peaceful
environment, sensitively designed in line with the principles
of palliative care and in consultation with potential groups,
patient groups and Macmillan Cancer Relief.
The 1,600 m² of floor space will provide:
• Office space for over 90 staff, including researchers,
clinical staff and several professors in palliative care,
rehabilitation and related disciplines.
• Teaching space, including seminar, tutorial and
workshop rooms and a lecture theatre.
• An information and support centre for patients, carers
and healthcare professionals.
• Space for clinical palliative care and cancer staff,
including offices, therapy rooms and clinical/
consultation rooms.
• A video conferencing suite for international lectures
and seminars.
It is essential that the planning of the Institute reflects
and serves the interests of patients and their carers.
To achieve this, and to ensure that patients and families
continue to contribute to our activities, we have
implemented a strategy for user involvement. We have
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