What the people at St Ann’s say: Peter O’Brien

What’s in a name?

My name is Peter O’Brien and I am the Chaplaincy Support Co-ordinator here at St Ann’s Hospice. We have announced our intention to change from St Ann’s Hospice to Moya Cole Hospice. The change will coincide with the final construction work at our new hospice in Heald Green. New name but same values, care and support.

Moya Cole Hospice

I was speaking to a Bishop recently who believes that if the founders of the hospice thought the name St Ann caused just one person any confusion or concerns which prevented them from accessing our hospice services, then they would have changed the name.

As we have seen, Dr Moya Cole was a remarkable woman who was ahead of her time; so what can be a more fitting tribute to her vision, over 50 years ago, than to rebrand the hospice in her name. She would be thrilled to know that people from our multi-ethnic and diverse communities; of all faith traditions and those who profess none, will continue to be welcomed and receive all the support they need from Moya Cole Hospice.

What is a hospice?

We may be changing our name to Moya Cole Hospice, but with our modern new building we aim to continue to provide what historically we have done since we first opened – that is first-class holistic care and compassion, in a healthcare setting where we support the whole person as they attempt to come to terms with a life-limiting or life-threatening illness.

Our state-of-the-art new hospice will be a safe environment where we’ll take into our protection a person’s physical, emotional, social and spiritual wellbeing.

Why St Ann?

Our hospice was so called because it is located on St Ann’s Road North. In times gone by, it wasn’t only place names, but many hospitals and hospices, which were named after important Christian people (for example Saints Ann, Christopher and Francis). This is because during medieval times the church was the centre of the community where local people and travellers from afar would receive nourishment, rest and medical care alongside religious support.

The setting within these religious buildings where this care took place was called in Latin the ‘Hospitium’, from where we derive the terms: hospital, hospice, hostel, hotel and hospitality – all meaning: to offer care, shelter, rest and protection.

Who was Moya Cole?

Northern Irish consultant Dr Moya Cole OBE was one of the founders of our hospices in Heald Green and Little Hulton, and aside from her ground-breaking work on breast cancer, it is also fair to say that without her foresight and determination there would be no St Ann’s Hospice. However, not many people know her name and her founding role in our history.

It was in 1967 that Moya and the then Bishop of Manchester, the Rt Rev Dr William Greer, had the idea for a hospice for the people of Greater Manchester and together, they worked to win over businesses and the public to their cause. Their efforts were successful and in 1969 St Ann’s was founded and officially opened by the Queen Mother in 1971.

New name, same outstanding care

The changing of our hospice name from St Ann’s to Moya Cole is a bold and brave move. We as an organisation aim to be around to care for the people of Greater Manchester for years to come, and this is a step in the right direction to ensure that.

We are an organisation that believes in inclusivity and care for all, so if this change makes it more comfortable for those with different backgrounds to seek our care, then it is the right move.

One thing is for certain, Moya Cole Hospice will continue the same mission that we as an organisation have always held to our very core – care with compassion for those in our community and their families.