Bedford Daycare Hospice Merges with Keech Hospice Care

It has been confirmed that two highly respected charities are merging. The charities are Bedford Daycare Hospice and Keech Hospice Care. The confirmation comes after a thorough due diligence process.

Bedford Daycare Hospice is an independent charity which provides holistic day care to adults in north and mid Bedfordshire living with a life-limiting condition. It has a physical hospice site in Linden Road, Bedford.

Keech Hospice Care provides care for adults in Luton and south Bedfordshire, and children throughout Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Milton Keynes. Its hospice site is in Luton. Care is provided to patients in the hospice, their own homes, hospitals, schools and wherever support is needed the most.

The main purposes of the merger are to sustain the future of Bedford Daycare Hospice and to ensure that more people can benefit from the range of services offered by both charities.

Liz Searle, CEO of Keech Hospice Care, says: ‘Merging the two organisations will help us reach and support more patients throughout our community and attract and retain outstanding clinical professionals, staff and volunteers. Both hospices are already well-known for the outstanding quality of care they provide. The merger serves to strengthen and enhance our current range of services and our combined efforts will ensure even more people in our community benefit from them.’

All jobs at both organisations will remain secure. Both hospice sites will remain open and in their current locations, and retail stores run by Bedford Daycare Hospice and Keech Hospice Care will continue to operate as normal.

Donald Parsons, Chair of Trustees at Bedford Daycare Hospice, comments: ‘Bedford Daycare Hospice has a long history of providing comprehensive care for the people of Bedford. Over the years, sustaining the charity has sometimes been challenging. However, we are delighted to be merging with Keech Hospice Care, a charity that shares our vision and values. By merging together there is a bright and secure future and the opportunity to continue to expand services for our local community. As a founding member of Bedford Daycare Hospice, it is wonderful to know that our legacy will go from strength to strength and is in safe hands.’

Liz Searle will be CEO and the Keech Hospice board of trustees will comprise representatives across Keech Hospice Care and Bedford Daycare Hospice.

Liz adds: ‘One of the main reasons this merger came into being was due to how closely aligned the two hospices are – with high quality patient care at their hearts. There is great synergy also between our cultures and values, with both organisations known for their friendly and welcoming environments. These things will not change. The only change we will experience, which is a positive one, is that our services will grow and be available to more patients and families, where there are gaps. We will need the ongoing support of the community across Bedfordshire to ensure we can realise this ambition.

‘Volunteers will continue to be a major and important part of what we do and how we do it. We hope the merged organisation will create even more opportunities for further volunteers to get involved.’

Helen Nellis, patron and former Lord-Lieutenant of Bedfordshire, says: ‘As the proud patron of both these wonderful organisations, I am delighted that they are now blending together their special talents and cultures so that the people who so treasure their services will continue to receive the care that is much valued. A huge thank you to all who have contributed over many years and I look forward with excitement to the future.’

Richard Ward, CEO of The Bedfordshire Charitable Trust, adds: ‘The Bedfordshire Charitable Trust has been an active partner and supporter of the Bedford Daycare Hospice since its earliest days. The merger with Keech Hospice will allow the excellent service the Daycare Hospice has provided for many years to be sustained and expanded, and we absolutely support the merger.’

The merger will take place with immediate effect.