Our History

We began as a charity by starting work in Romania in 1992. At that time, there was no hospice care whatsoever available in the country. Cancer patients had little or no pain relief and were often simply left to die in pain. The health system was corrupt and many people avoided seeking medical help as they could not afford to pay a bribe.

Graham Perolls, Founder of Hospices of Hope, started by setting up an Anglo-Romanian charity partnership with 10 Romanian and 10 UK members. The name given to the charity was Hospice Casa Sperantei (Home of Hope in Romanian). The appeal to raise funds for Romania in the UK was originally launched through the Ellenor Hospice (which Graham had founded in 1985), but in 2000, a separate charity was established called Hospices of Hope.

Graham with Dame Cicely Saunders

Other countries in the region had similar problems and so we extended our work into Serbia in 2006, the Republic of Moldova in 2008, Albania in 2019, Greece in 2021 and Ukraine in 2022.

All services provided by our country partners are free of charge to patients.

Our journey

1991

Trustees of the Ellenor Foundation in Kent agreed to launch the Romania Appeal to raise funds for hospice care in Romania.

1992

Hospice Casa Sperantei established in Brasov as an Anglo-Romanian hospice charity. Romania’s first hospice home care team for adult patients was launched.

1996

Children’s hospice team started in Brasov, Romania.

1997

Opening of the Princess Diana Hospice Education Centre in Brasov. The centre provides training in Palliative care for health care professionals.

2000

Hospices of Hope launched a sister charity in the USA.

2001

Hospice Casa Sperantei was recognised by the Open Society Institute as a “Palliative Care Beacon in South Eastern Europe”. The study, carried out by the University of Sheffield, encouraged Hospice Casa Sperantei to develop a regional role in the Balkans.

2002

The official opening of the first in-patient hospice in Brasov, Romania.

2003

In response to the 2001 study and report, Hospices of Hope launched its Beacon Appeal, which raised £1 million to promote and develop palliative care in the region.

2004

The Nicholas Edeleanu Institute was opened in Bucharest as a National Palliative Care Resource Centre.

2006

A home care team and a hospital support team launched in Bucharest. The initial step to create an international network was taken when Hospices of Hope established a partnership with BELhospice Hospice in Serbia.

2008

Moldova was added to the Network initially through a partnership with a hospice organisation in Chisinau, the capital of Moldova. Two mobile services were introduced in Fagaras and Zarnesti in Brasov County.

2009

The Romanian Ministry of Health signed a national partnership agreement with Hospice Casa Sperantei.

2011

The site for new hospice in Bucharest was purchased. Hospice Emanual in Oradea became our second Romanian partner to support the northern part of the country.

2012

The Florescu family donated its summer estate at Copaceni as a centre for children and families affected by rare or life-limiting illnesses.

2014

Graham was made a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George for rendering 22 years’ of extraordinary service in a foreign country.

2014

The official opening of the new Hospice in Bucharest took place with the Duchess of Norfolk and HRH Dominic Habsburg cutting the ribbon.

2016

Hospices of Hope celebrated the 25th anniversary of the launch of the Romanian Appeal.

2017

Hospice Casa Sperantei celebrated its 25th anniversary. As part of the celebrations His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales visited the Hospice in Bucharest.

2017

A new project to create and support a national network of hospices throughout the country was launched in Moldova.

Technology services to help patients were introduced in Romania.

2018

The official opening of:

the children’s respite and therapy centre, Adunatii Copaceni, Romania.

the Hospice Centre in Belgrade, Serbia.

2019

Hospices of Hope Albania established. Supporting a network of palliative care organisations.

2021

Hospices of Hope celebrated the 30th anniversary of the launch of the Romanian appeal. Greece was added to the network and partnerships established with Merimna (children’s palliative care team) and Nosilia (adult palliative care team) in Athens.

2022

Help for Ukraine appeal is launched in response to the war and the Regional Palliative Care Centre Ivano-Frankivsk in Western Ukraine officially becomes part of the Hospices of Hope network.

To read more, find our full story here in our Journey of Hope publication:

https://online.flippingbook.com/view/246394456/

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