History of the Butterwick
In March 1979 Mary Butterwick's husband John died of cancer. Following that she embarked on a crusade to provide the advice and support that had not been available during her husband's illness.
Mary sold her bungalow and put the proceeds towards a house in Hartburn Lane, Stockton - known as 'No. 10'. It was a day care centre which opened on January 3 1984 and achieved charitable status in November of that year. With the consistent support of friends, volunteers and Christian Relay she expanded her dream. The day care centre was moved to a converted convent on Bishopton Road in 1988. In December 1989 the first in-patient was admitted. The hospice consisted of six in-patient beds and 8 day care places, providing medical and nursing care and physiotherapy along with support for patients and their relatives.
When the hospice began to groan at the seams, a decision was made to create a purpose-built hospice. The new hospice would offer the existing facilities plus more, increasing the number of in-patient beds and day unit places. An appeal was launched and supported by the local community with the new hospice being completed in July 1997.
Currently the hospice provides 10 in-patient beds, and 20 day care places. There is also an adjacent Children's Hospice, which opened in 1998. This is all thanks to the continued efforts of Mary Butterwick, nursing and medical staff, volunteers, fundraisers and the general public of Stockton and District.
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