Hospice Trust background

Weldmar Hospice Trust

The Weldmar Hospicecare Trust is an independent charity working in Dorset. All services are provided free of charge with 75% of the funds needed raised locally and the NHS gives the rest. The hospice trust is the only agency providing specialist palliative care in north, south and west Dorset.

The job of the Trust is to support people in Dorset affected by cancer and other life-limiting diseases, largely at the end of life and they work both with patients and their families. They also provide respite services for people with complex long-term progressive conditions. As the only specialist agency in the area the trust also educates colleagues in primary care and the acute and independent sectors on how to deliver high quality generalist palliative care.

Patients can live at home with specialist nursing support services, social groups and day hospices in Weymouth, Dorchester and Shaftesbury. People needing in-patient services come to Joseph Weld Hospice in Dorchester for symptom control, respite or end of life care.  Doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, a chaplain, complementary therapists, art and music therapists, social workers, bereavement workers and over 250 patient care volunteers work with patients to provide care and support.

The Trust is governed by a Board of Trustees headed by Chairman Dr Geoffrey Guy and supported by an Advisory Council. The Care Quality Commission regulates their services and the Charity Commission and Companies House regulate their business.  There were originally three charities, CancerCare Dorset (formerly West Dorset Macmillan Service), Joseph Weld Hospice and Trimar Hospice and the services merged between 2003-2004 to form Weldmar Hospicecare Trust.

Funds come from legacies, Friends of Weldmar Hospicecare Trust fundraising activities, community fundraising, major events, a chain of shops and investments. The NHS also funds a small proportion of services.