A local hospice, caring for local people.
LOROS deliver free, high-quality, compassionate care and support to terminally ill patients, their family and carers. LOROS deliver care that is special and unique to each individual.
Our Vision
Everyone with an incurable illness has the right to excellent care. This should value and respect their uniqueness and their own choices. People should be enabled to live and die with dignity and with appropriate and compassionate support for themselves and their loved ones.
Our Mission
LOROS is a charity whose aim is to enhance the quality of life of adult patients with cancer, progressive neurological conditions and end-stage organ failure for whom curative treatment is no longer possible. Patients are treated at the Hospice and in the community based upon clinical need, regardless of background and the ability to pay.
LOROS specialises in holistic, multidisciplinary care, focused on the whole person and including family and carers. The care given takes into account the patient’s physical, psychological, social and spiritual needs as well as their own choices. Family members are supported in adjusting to loss and bereavement.
LOROS contributes to the education and training of its own and other health and social care professionals and of volunteers. The charity is also committed to research in order to improve the understanding and practice of palliative care.
Our Values
Professional
Showing respect to patients and families, as well as members of our community, staff and volunteers.
focused
On exceptional quality service and support for patients and families whilst listening, learning and adapting to their diverse needs.
collaborative
Working together as colleagues and with local, regional and national partners to grow meaningful relationships and achieve sustainability.
compassionate
Showing kindness, discretion and sensitivity as we care for our patients, families, our community, staff and volunteers.
Trustworthy
Be honest, reliable and consistent, showing respect and dignity in everything that we do.
Accountable
To our patients, their families, our community, staff, volunteers and external organisations/bodies.
Our History
1975 – December – Joint meeting of Leicester Council of Churches and Leicester Free Church Women’s Council, to secure better care for the terminally ill
1976 – January – Hospice Project Group starts
1977 – March – LOROS becomes a registered charity
November – Inaugural public meeting at Leicester Town Hall
1980 – December – Groby Road site chosen for the Hospice at the back of the Hospital
1981 – January – LOROS’s first office opens at 18 Friar Lane and Mrs Anne Kind is appointed as the first employee
February – Leicester Area Health Authority confirms financial support for the proposed Continuing Care Unit (LOROS Hospice)
March – Fundraising appeal is launched at the University of Leicester
1983 – September – Manor Croft, a Victorian house at 147 Ratcliffe Road, Leicester, is bought for conversion to a day centre
1984 – March – The President, Lady Palmer, cuts the first turf at Groby Road site at the start of work on the Groby Road Hospice Building
April – Manor Croft Day Centre receives its first patients
June – First client is referred to the counselling service, based at Manor Croft
1985 – August – Voluntary Services team is created
September – First patient is admitted to the Hospice (registered for 12 beds only)
October – Counselling service moved to the Hospice
1986 – February – Hospice is licensed for 25 beds
March – The target to raise £1.5 million in five years is achieved
May – HRH The Prince and Princess of Wales officially open the Hospice
1989 – January – Manor Croft Extension is completed
August – First LOROS shop opens in Loughborough
1990 – January – Community Nurse Specialist team established (formerly known as Home Care)
July – The Duchess of Kent officially opens the Manor Croft Extension
1995 – January – Lymphoedema service commences
1996 – LOROS Lottery is launched
December – First Light up a Life service is held at the Hospice
1997 – February – Keith Vaz, MP, officially opens the new Relative’s Suite
1999 – June – Jennifer, Lady Gretton is appointed as LOROS President
2000 – May – The Duchess of Gloucester officially opens another Hospice extension
2002 – July – Education team is established
2004 – April – Five new single patient rooms are opened on the ‘back corridor’, now 31 beds
2007 – June – Launched a £2 million Capital Appeal to fund an extension to the Inpatient Unit
2009 – February – Commenced the appointment of LOROS Patrons and Ambassadors
2010 – March – The Duchess of Gloucester officially opens the new Willow Wing extension to the Ward
September – Founders event held to mark the 25th anniversary of the Hospice opening
2012 – March – The community Nurse Specialist team moved into the new clinical support hospice extension
Official launch of the CPEP research and education collaboration with De Montfort University at the House of CommonsMay – Official opening of the award-winning Garden of Light & Reflection
December – Manor Croft Day Therapy Unit closes
2013 – January – New Day Therapy service launched at the Hospice
September – Manor Croft property sold
2015 – February – BBC East Midlands Today presenter, Anne Davies, becomes a Patron of LOROS
June – LOROS Patron Anne Davies opens the Hospice’s first ‘By Design’ shop. As well as selling designer items at charity shop prices, the shop also boasts a ‘by appointment only’ wedding parlour
September – The Hospice celebrates its 30th Anniversary in the month that it welcomed it first patient 30 years ago
The Hospice launched a ’30 for 30′ campaign throughout the month of September, raising money and celebrating 30 years of careNovember – Channel 4 Hollyoaks star, Charlie Clapham, becomes Patron of LOROS
December – Announcement of plans for a £6 million expansion to the Hospice site
2016 – March – The Hospice launches a new social enterprise with a series of bespoke leadership courses for local business professionals and companies
July – Living saint, His Holliness Shri Rameshbhal Oza, paid a special visit to the Hospice as he returned to Leicester after 14 years
October – Leicester City legend and LOROS Patron Alan ‘The Birch’ Birchenall ‘cuts the turf’ to mark the official start of our £6 million extension
December – The Hospice launches its Consultant Clinic at Uppingham Surgery as part of expansion of services into the Rutland area
2017 – March – Launch of LOROS Local, our mobile resource centre
Taking to the roads of Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland, LOROS Local will enable people to access our care closer to home. LOROS Local will also help us raise awareness and people will be able to find out about the services the Hospice offersApril – The Hospice launches innovative ‘I Experience VR’ app, enabling patients to use virtual reality to experience life again as they battle terminal illnesses
The Hospice launched the project by commissioning and producing a special film, and began an evaluation study on the impact it has on patientsJune – The Hospice’s Research Manager wins the ‘Newcomer Impact Award’ at the Clinical Research Network East Midlands Research Awards
The award was presented in recognition of the impact she has since made on research in the medical sector in her first year at the HospiceOctober – Baroness Finlay officially opens Phase One of the Hospice expansion. the brand new LOROS Professional Development Centre
Work begins on Phase Two of our Hospice expansion, the extension and development of our Day Therapy and Outpatient facilitiesNovember – Hollywood icon Stephen Graham and his actress wife Hannah Walters become Patrons of LOROS
December – We become the first organisation in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland to be awarded a SAGE & THYME communications training accreditation
2018 – January – National TV star and comedian Greg Davies becomes Patron of LOROS following hugely successful and inspiring visit to Hospice
August – Key milestone marked with a topping out ceremony as the final roof tile is placed onto the highly anticipated new Day Therapy and Outpatient’s building
September –
The Hospice launches a ground-breaking filmmaking competition, being one of the world’s first ‘VR for good’ film competitions with a significant cash prize
The Hospice announced important new research as it is awarded a grant of £417,000 from the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) to explore how BAME patients can be better supported at the end of their lives
The Hospice will work in partnership with Leicester’s HospitalsOctober – Opening of our new Day Therapy and Outpatient’s building
These new facilities are one of the best in the UK and will enable us to care for an extra 250 patients a yearNovember – The Hospice was one of the three honoured charities invited to meet Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge as they visited Leicester City Football Club
2019 – March – Launch of the first LOROS Business Club
To find out more visit – https://loros.co.uk/