Dame Cicely Saunders’ life and work
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 since 1948, 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.
Dame Cicely Saunders’ vision
Through her single-minded vision, and the clinical practice and dissemination of her work through St Christopher’s teaching and outreach, Dame Cicely revolutionised the way in which society cares for the ill, the dying and the bereaved.
Dame Cicely 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 Cicely refused to accept. Throughout her time at St Christopher’s her watchword was ”there is so much more to be done.”
Dame Cicely had initially thought of creating an Anglican religious community but broadened her vision so that St Christopher’s became a place that welcomed staff and patients of any faith or none.
However, Cicely’s strong Christian faith was a fundamental factor in her vision to establish her own home for the dying and remained an anchor throughout her life.
Founder of the modern hospice movement
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.
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.
Marian Bohusz-Szyszko
In 1963, Marian Bohusz-Szyszko held an exhibition at the Drian Gallery in London. Dr Cicely Saunders, then continuing her tireless work to found St Christopher’s Hospice, saw his painting Christ Calming the Waters, and purchased it for the hospice.
Cicely began writing to Marian and their relationship developed. Marian became ‘artist in residence’ at the hospice after it opened, and had a studio on what is now Rugby Ward. Marian and Cicely were married in 1980.
Dame Cicely Saunders Life
Marian Bohusz-Szyszko
Marian Bohusz-Szyszko was born in 1901 near Vilnius, then in Russian Poland, today in Lithuania.
Dame Cicely Saunders is born
Born 22 June 1918 in Barnet, Hertfordshire, Dame Cicely trained as a nurse, a medical social worker and finally as a physician.
Cicely becomes involved in the care of patients with a terminal illness
Involved with the care of patients with terminal illness since 1948, she lectured widely on this subject, wrote many articles and contributed to numerous books.
Cicely Saunders meets Marian Bohusz-Szyszko
While attending an exhibition at the Drian Gallery in London, Cicely purchased one of his paintings for the hospice. They began writing to each other.
St Christopher’s Hospice is founded
Dame Cicely founded St Christopher’s Hospice as the first hospice linking expert pain and symptom control, compassionate care, teaching and clinical research.
Homecare team established
In 1969 Dame Cicely pioneered the first home care team taking St Christopher’s care and philosophy out into the community.
Dame of the British Empire
Dame Cicely was made a Dame of the British Empire.
Marian and Cicely were married in 1980
Marian and Cicely were married.
Awarded Order of Merit
Cicley is awarded the Order of Merit.
Marian Bohusz-Szyszko dies
Marian Bohusz-Szyszko died at St Christopher’s Hospice on 28 January 1995.
Awarded Conrad N Hilton Humanitarian Prize
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.
Dame Cicely Saunders dies
Dame Cicely Saunders died peacefully on Thursday 14 July 2005 at St Christopher’s Hospice in south London, the world-famous hospice that she founded in the 1960s, and the birthplace of the modern hospice movement.
Service of Thanksgiving
A Service of Thanksgiving for the life of Dame Cicely Saunders was held at Westminster Abbey on 8 March 2006.
Remembering Dame Cicely Saunders – ten years on
On 23 June 2015, 120 people gathered at St Christopher’s to remember Dame Cicely Saunders to celebrate her life and many achievements ten years since she died at the hospice she founded.
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. Visit our Library and Bookshop for further information.
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 d.clark@lancaster.ac.uk
Our history
Explore our history
The voices that shaped us: Modern hospice in the making
Our exhibition tells the story of St Christopher’s Hospice using interviews with many of the people who have shaped our history.
Cicely Saunders Society
Promoting the appreciation and understanding of the life and work of Dame Cicely Saunders
