Description: A multimedia project by the Lien Foundation to commemorate 50 years of the modern hospice movement
50 years ago, Dame Cicely Saunders founded the world’s first modern hospice and changed the way we die. Her grit and remarkable vision framed the acceptance of palliative care in modern medicine, while her compassion shaped the way we understand and control pain. These achievements in Great Britain have since given rise to a global movement, but it faces a myriad of challenges ahead. How will the next chapter of its story read?
In the 2015 Quality of Death Index we commissioned, the UK has consistently paved the way in developing palliative care standards. It topped a list of 80 countries owing to comprehensive national policies, the extensive integration of palliative care into its National Health Service and a strong hospice movement. But in light of these achievements and changing demographics, there is a consensus that the way forward lies in active community engagement, the de-medicalisation of care and an inclusive, radical
To commemorate 50 years of the modern hospice movement, the Lien Foundation seeks to reaffirm the pioneering spirit of Dame Cicely Saunders by exploring the state of palliative care in the UK today and creatively inspire those taking steps in new frontiers. We extend our gratitude to partners who took time to be a part of this project.