DAME CICELY SAUNDERS, OM, DBE, FRCP, FRCN
FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT OF ST CHRISTOPHER’S HOSPICE
22 June 1918 - 14 July 2005
Born 22 June 1918 in Barnet, Hertfordshire, Dame Cicely trained as a nurse, a medical social worker and finally as a physician. Involved with the care of patients with terminal illness since1948, she lectured widely on this subject, wrote many articles and contributed to numerous books.
Dame Cicely founded St Christopher’s Hospice in 1967 as the first hospice linking expert pain and symptom control, compassionate care, teaching and clinical research. St Christopher’s has been a pioneer in the field of palliative medicine, which is now established
worldwide.
Through her single-minded vision, and the clinical practice and dissemination of her work through St Christopher’s teaching and outreach, Dame Cicely has revolutionised the way in which society cares for the ill, the dying and the bereaved. Dame Cicely is recognised as the founder of the modern hospice movement and received many honours and awards for her work.
She held more than 25 honorary degrees, from the UK and overseas. Awards included the British Medical Association Gold Medal for services to medicine, the Templeton Prize for Progress in Religion, the Onassis Prize for Services to Humanity, The Raoul Wallenberg Humanitarian Award and the Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms for Worship Medal.
Dame Cicely was made a Dame of the British Empire in 1979 and awarded the Order of Merit in 1989.
Dame Cicely Saunders recognised the inadequacy of the care of the dying that was offered in hospitals. So often, patients and families were told that “there was nothing more that could be done” a statement that Dame Cicely refused to accept.
Throughout her time at St Christopher’s her watchword has been “there is so much more to be done.”Pioneering research on the use of morphine as an effective drug for pain control was carried out at St Christopher’s, along with other detailed studies of new approaches to symptom control. Dame Cicely also understood that a dying person is more than a patient with symptoms to be controlled. She became convinced of the paramount importance of combining excellent medical and nursing care with “holistic” support that recognised practical, emotional, social, and spiritual need. She saw the dying person and the family as the unit of care and developed bereavement services at St Christopher’s Hospice to extend support beyond the death of the patient.
In 1969 Dame Cicely pioneered the first home care team taking St Christopher’s care and philosophy out into the community.
In 2001 St Christopher’s Hospice received the Conrad N Hilton Humanitarian Prize - the world''s largest humanitarian award - of one million dollars for the work originated by Dame Cicely through the Hospice.
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES:
Dame Cicely was educated at Roedean (1932-37), St. Anne''s College Oxford (1938 – 1939 and 1944-45). She trained as a nurse at St Thomas’s Hospital Nightingale School of Nursing from 1940-44; qualified AIMSW (Medical Social Worker) in 1947 and trained as a doctor at St Thomas’s Hospital Medical School (1951-57) qualifying MB, BS with Honours in surgery.
Extensively published from 1959 onwards, a full list of publications and access to archive material may be requested from Professor David Clark, University of Lancaster (email) d.clark@lancaster.ac.uk)
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Articles and books written by Dame Cicely Saunders available at St Christopher''s
Articles and books written about Dame Cicely Saunders available at St Christopher''s
Dame Cicely''s Memorial Service
Our Services and facilities
Education and Research at St Christopher''s
Our history
Contact our Librarian if you would like to obtain any of the publictions about or written by Dame Cicely Saunders or if you would like further information about the history of hospices or the work of Dame Cicely Saunders.
