The wheels are now in motion “to plan, prepare and look to the future of supportive and specialised palliative care services in West Lancashire, Southport and Formby” after Dr Karen Groves MBE, the Medical and Education Director of Queenscourt Hospice in Southport, announced her retirement.
Dr Karen Groves and her sister Sarah were the “inspiration and driving force” behind the creation of Queenscourt Hospice 30 years ago, when there were no real palliative care services in this area.
The hospice, on Town Lane in Southport, opened its doors in 1991, and was officially opened by Diana, Princess of Wales in 1991.
Queenscourt Hospice Director of Nursing Louise Charnock said: “I always knew this day would come, however pushing it to the back of my mind was the easy (and most successful) option.
“Alas I can do this no more as Karen’s imminent retirement has been announced and we can do no more to delay the inevitable.
“The wheels are now in motion to plan, prepare and look to the future of supportive and specialised palliative care services in West Lancashire, Southport and Formby.
“I have worked alongside Karen at Queenscourt since 2012 in a variety of roles. During this time, she has been a role model, educator, colleague, and critical friend to me. She has encouraged, cajoled, challenged, and questioned me; without Karen I would never have achieved half of what I have done in my nursing career.
“I have been very fortunate to spend the last year working with Karen and Debbie in the Director’s role.
“Despite some trepidation at Karen’s departure, I now look forward with excitement to continue my work alongside Debbie, a new medical and education director, and the wider team for the future of Queenscourt.
“I am to take all that I have learnt from Karen over the years and invest it in the development, leadership, and progression of Queenscourt to continue the excellence of service Queenscourt has become renowned for.
“I hope we all make Karen and Queenscourt proud.
“I wish Karen every happiness in her much deserved, and needed retirement.”
Queenscourt Hospice Director Debbie Pierce-Lawson said: “When I became part of #teamqueenscourt in 2018, my only experience of hospice care was the support that my father and our family received from Queenscourt Hospice and a certain Dr Groves back in 1997.
“Luckily, my varied background and experience enabled me to convince the recruitment panel that they should appoint me as Queenscourt’s new Corporate Services Director.
“I joined the trio of executive directors (the unholy trinity as we are sometimes known), feeling very much like the ‘new girl’ with an awful lot to learn from Dr Karen Groves and the then Director of Nursing, Helen Birch.
“Helen has since been very ably succeeded by Louise Charnock and now I must prepare for the day, not so far away, when I will become the longest serving member of our executive team!
“It all seems to have come about far too quickly and there is still so much to learn, but if we are to continue developing and innovating then learning must be continuous.
“There is no better example of ongoing evolution than Karen and I couldn’t be more pleased for her (if a little scared for myself) that she is preparing for a whole new adventure.”
- Would you like to support the work of Queenscourt Hospice? Please visit their website here: queenscourt.org.uk
- Support the work of Queenscourt Hospice by joining the Queenscourt Lottery here. You can win up to £1,500 each and every week – and, better still, you’ll be making a real difference to Queenscourt each time you play.
- If you would like to send a message to Dr Groves on her retirement, please get in touch by emailing: hospice@queenscourt.org.uk or by post to: Queenscourt Hospice, Town Lane, Southport, PR8 3RE.
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