History of the hospice

1802
In 1802 Carlton Place, built by James Laurie, was a prestigious block of mansions for Glasgow’s ruling elite. Overlooking the River Clyde, the Georgian terrace featured exquisite panelling and plasterwork but by 1983 Carlton Place was in a very sad state when the Hospice got the keys to No 71/73. After years of declining fortunes, the property was derelict, burnt out and propped up by scaffolding.

1980
Dr. Anne Gilmore, Dr. Peter Slater, Rev. Alf Bowie, accountant Hugh Cosgrove and nurse Barbara Daimer meet to discuss how to improve the care of people with a terminal illness in Glasgow.

1981
The Trust they create is gifted to The Prince & Princess of Wales as a wedding present from Glasgow, making us the first institution in Britain to be named after the new Royal couple.

1983
‘The Prince & Princess of Wales Hospice’ is officially registered and a lease at 71/73 Carlton Place is granted.

1984
Building works completed in Carlton Place. Volunteers move in and set up a makeshift office.

1988
We bought 69 Carlton Place for a bargain price.

1991
The hospice takes on the lease for 67 Carlton Place.

1992
Building work continues at No 69. Work includes expanding the Day Care Centre and in-patient ward, while “knocking through” the wall to our administrative offices.

1994
We buy Carlton Court at the rear of No 69 from Glasgow City Council. Now we can seriously think about extending the Day Care Centre beyond the original terrace.

1995
The hospice launches a £1.4 million appeal, chaired by Douglas Low, to fund a major expansion of our Day Care Centre and double our Home Care Team.

1996
As Appeal money starts to trickle in, modifications to the inpatient ward create more flexibility in the use of space. We also create a small garden at the rear of No 71 for Day Care Centre Patients.

1997
Our number comes up with the Lottery and £374,000 for the Appeal fund lets us plan a much more ambitious Day Care Centre, extending out into Carlton Court. The new rear entrance provides a much more welcoming and secure entrance for patients.

1998
Once again, the Lottery comes through for us – this time to underwrite expansion of the Home Care team and carry out a series of Capital improvements to the building and its administrative facilities. Together, the grants amount to almost £700,000.

In July, Scottish Health Minister Sam Galbraith officiates over the official ground breaking ceremony for the new day unit.

1999 The Day Centre is completed at a cost of £1,100,000 including purchase of the adjoining property around the corner of the terrace at 4 South Portland Street. To mark the day, Sam Galbraith and a patient, Betty Hunter, lend their handprints to a block of concrete which will eventually be displayed in the centre.

1985
Our First service, a 24-hour helpline staffed by volunteers for patients, families and healthcare professionals is launched and, within a year, handling 100 calls a week.

1986
The ground floor at 71 Carlton Place is completed and the day centre opens.

1987
Our community nursing team start visiting patients at home and we launch a weekly outpatient clinic for pain and symptom control.

1989
The new, 8-bed, inpatient ward opens at No. 69 and offers pain and symptom control in addition to end-of-life-care.

1992
Chief Executive Dr Anne Gilmore is chosen Scotswoman of the Year in a poll of readers of the Evening Times.

1995
Dr Gilmore steps down and the new Chief Executive, Iain Laidlaw, launches a £1.4 million appeal to extend the day centre and double our community nursing team.

1997
We receive a grant of £374,000 from The Lottery and can plan a much more ambitious day centre than originally envisaged.

1999
The new day centre is completed and includes therapy and treatment rooms, a prayer room, a sensory suite and so much more.

2001
Preparations are made to significantly improve the inpatient unit and provide an even higher level of comfort. Each bed will have its own TV, special equipment for bathing will be purchased and there will be more space for visitors.

2002
The Rt Hon The Lord Provost of Glasgow, Alex Mosson hands the keys to 71-73 Carlton Place to chairman Neil Macfarlane, transferring ownership to the Hospice.

2003
Based on excellent feedback from a three month pilot, our Art Project is launched permanently and can be accessed by inpatients, day centre patients and patients receiving support at home.

2008
Following a very successful career in palliative care, Rhona Baillie is appointed as Chief Executive of the hospice.

2010
The inpatient unit is extended to offer 14 beds, two of which are single bedrooms. A new sensory room is installed alongside a new pharmacy.

2012
We launch our Brick by Brick Appeal in order to raise £21M and relocate to a purpose built facility at Bellahouston Park. The new hospice will significantly enhance all of our existing services and also allow us to lower our age limit to 15 for the first time.

2018
Following the build of our state-of-the-art hospice we move into our new home at Bellahouston Park.

2019
A global pandemic is declared following the emergence of a new strain of coronavirus COVID-19. While the hospice is affected with cancelled fundraising events and retail shops having to close during lockdowns, the inpatient unit remained open providing care to patients and their families 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The hospice also responded to the pandemic by realising our digital potential and online and social platforms were used during lockdowns to stay in touch with patients living in their own homes and who were shielding. Telephone calls were fully utilised and face-to-face visits resumed once restrictions allowed. The pandemic was to last for almost three years, with final restrictions being lifted in 2022.

2023
With the pandemic behind us, the hospice has a full year of events planning to celebrate 40 years of providing vital, compassionate care to the people of Glasgow and their families.

May 1982
Billy Connolly gets on his bike in London and cycles to Glasgow to raise awareness for the hospice and then, a week later, performs at a charity concert bringing in more funds.

September 1983
Jack Nicklaus holds a special golf clinic and exhibition at Whitecraigs in aid of the hospice raising a total of £7,000.

October 1983
Jimmy Logan stages Royal Scottish Variety Performance at King’s Theatre and the Royal couple attend, raising £31,856.

August 1984
Over 700 runners take part in Strathclyde Women’s 10K raising £9,365.

April 1988
At the opening of Glasgow’s International Garden Festival, HRH The Princess of Wales puts the first stitch in our Embroiderer’s Guild Tapestry. At £1 a stitch, thousands of others will follow her example and raise a huge sum for the hospice.

May 1988
The first Hospice Shop opens in Pollokshaws Road. Hospice Enterprises will grow to a network of 17 shops around the city, contributing more than £25,000 a year to the hospice.

1990
When The Prince & Princess of Wales come to inspect their wedding gift, they see the hospice areas and services all fully functional.

1994
The Forbes publishing family of New York open the doors of their London Home - Old Battersea House – for a rare view of their priceless art collection – highly successful fundraiser for the hospice.

1998
Look Back and Laugh, Jimmy Logan’s one man show in The Royal Scottish Automobile Club, is the finale to as successful Appeal in November.

1999
The first Zipline plunge from Finnieston Crane across the Clyde raises £45,000.

2012
A Capital Appeal Brick by Brick is launched to support the new building of a new hospice within Bellahouston Park. Over the next five years, the Capital Appeal raises £21million.

2019
An event held in London ‘In Private with Texas’ saw an incredible £500,000 raised in one night to support the pilot of a new Short Breaks Stays service for Young Adults with life-limiting conditions at the hospice.

1985
Our First service, a 24-hour helpline staffed by volunteers for patients, families and healthcare professionals is launched and, within a year, handling 100 calls a week.

1986
The ground floor at 71 Carlton Place is completed and the day centre opens.

1987
Our community nursing team start visiting patients at home and we launch a weekly outpatient clinic for pain and symptom control.

1989
The new, 8-bed, inpatient ward opens at No. 69 and offers pain and symptom control in addition to end-of-life-care.

1992
Chief Executive Dr Anne Gilmore is chosen Scotswoman of the Year in a poll of readers of the Evening Times.

1995
Dr Gilmore steps down and the new Chief Executive, Iain Laidlaw, launches a £1.4 million appeal to extend the day centre and double our community nursing team.

1997
We receive a grant of £374,000 from The Lottery and can plan a much more ambitious day centre than originally envisaged.

1999
The new day centre is completed and includes therapy and treatment rooms, a prayer room, a sensory suite and so much more.

2001
Preparations are made to significantly improve the inpatient unit and provide an even higher level of comfort. Each bed will have its own TV, special equipment for bathing will be purchased and there will be more space for visitors.

2002
The Rt Hon The Lord Provost of Glasgow, Alex Mosson hands the keys to 71-73 Carlton Place to chairman Neil Macfarlane, transferring ownership to the Hospice.

2003
Based on excellent feedback from a three month pilot, our Art Project is launched permanently and can be accessed by inpatients, day centre patients and patients receiving support at home.

2008
Following a very successful career in palliative care, Rhona Baillie is appointed as Chief Executive of the hospice.

2010
The inpatient unit is extended to offer 14 beds, two of which are single bedrooms. A new sensory room is installed alongside a new pharmacy.

2012
We launch our Brick by Brick Appeal in order to raise £21M and relocate to a purpose built facility at Bellahouston Park. The new hospice will significantly enhance all of our existing services and also allow us to lower our age limit to 15 for the first time.

2018
Following the build of our state-of-the-art hospice we move into our new home at Bellahouston Park.

2019
A global pandemic is declared following the emergence of a new strain of coronavirus COVID-19. While the hospice is affected with cancelled fundraising events and retail shops having to close during lockdowns, the inpatient unit remained open providing care to patients and their families 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The hospice also responded to the pandemic by realising our digital potential and online and social platforms were used during lockdowns to stay in touch with patients living in their own homes and who were shielding. Telephone calls were fully utilised and face-to-face visits resumed once restrictions allowed. The pandemic was to last for almost three years, with final restrictions being lifted in 2022.

2023
With the pandemic behind us, the hospice has a full year of events planning to celebrate 40 years of providing vital, compassionate care to the people of Glasgow and their families.