History of All Hallows

In 1855 the Community of All Hallows was founded by Lavinia Crosse daughter of a Norwich surgeon, who became to be known as Mother Lavinia. In 1872 Mother Lavinia set up a Hospital in a cottage in Ditchingham, very soon the cottage proved to be too small and work began on the present building, which was opened a year later.

Mother Lavinia became the Community of All Hallows first supervisor and applied to Norfolk & Norwich for Sisters to be trained as nurses to work in the hospital

Sir Rider Haggard visited in the earlier days when he was resident in Ditchingham. The earliest records tell of burns from paraffin lamps and injuries from falls from carts and horses. Doctors and surgeon cared for the sick, but qualified nurses were a rarity at that time. Day to day nursing was carried out by the Community Sisters and their voluntary helpers. However, in 1902 the community had a fully trained nurse, Sister Augusta, who worked at the Hospital.

Patients came to the Hospital for surgery and medical care and there were also beds for those who needed constant nursing during the last few days of their life. The First World War put a stop to much of the Hospital's care for local people, whilst wounded and sick soldiers were looked after during a four year period.

In 1933 Sister Gwyneth took charge and the maternity section grew. Mothers from surrounding villages came to have their babies at the Hospital. After 35 years Sister Gwyneth retired and the Hospital was put in the care of Sister Frances in 1968, she was not a nurse, therefore Sister Joy became Matron. In Sister Joy's time as Matron the NHS was asked if they would be interested in using beds at All Hallows and they funded eight. Since the deaths of Sister Joy (1976) and Sister Frances (1980), the Sisters from the Community have continued to care for the patient's and relatives pastoral needs. Today the Sisters are few in number and the Hospital is staffed by a professional lay team.

In 1994, Fairlands, a 38 bed residential home in Bungay owned by the local council came up for sale. The Community decided to purchase the home to extend their care service available to local people. It was renamed Adele House after one of the founder members of the Community. Following refurbishment and extension Adele House became dual registered as both a Nursing & Residential Home and now a Care Home with Nursing for 51 beds.

A few years later the Friends of All Hallows received a large legacy. The Community were advised by the senior team at the Hospital that daycarewould be a good area to expand. Daycare was currently in St Joseph's within the hospital and capacitiy was tight. It was felt a new department would enable more people to enjoy the services so the Day Treatment and Therapy Centre was built and opened in May 2004 in the grounds of the hospital. The new building was large enough to offer day care services to 24 people per day.

In July 2005, it was decided to rename it to All Hallows Nursing Home. This was done in order to firmly establish the connection between the Community, the Hospital and the Home. Also in 1994 The Day Treatment and Therapy Centre was built in the grounds behind All Hallows Hospital.

In May 2007 it was announced that the Sisters were to promote an independent charity to provide the strong leadership and expertise now needed to carry the work of the Hospital, now including a Nursing Home and Day Treatment Centre forward and to ensure compliance with the complex requirements of the legislation and regulations relating to medical services. Following this the formation of All Hallows Healthcare Trust was formed. A registered charity and a company limited by guarantee, the trustees who make up the Board of Management have, over the past two years, worked alongside the Community.

On April 1st 2009 the responsibility was handed to the Board of Management, All Hallows Healthcare Trust from the Sisters. The link with the Community is maintained as Mother Elizabeth is a trustee together with two of the Community’s nominees, Dr. Peter Kemp, a retired GP from Harleston and Mrs. Maureen Davies, a Bungay resident and former chairman of the Hospital Friends. The other trustees are the Board Chairman, Colin Pordham, a retired solicitor with a long association with the Community, John Randle of the Hospital Management Trust specialising in the running of hospitals and nursing homes, Howard Green, a former Chief Executive of South Norfolk Primary Care Group and David Sprake, a Bungay solicitor.

In April 2009 Colin Pordham, Chaiorman of All Hallows Healthcare Trust said " For 137 years the Hospital and ancilliary services have been managed by the Community Sisters and I know that it is with some sadness to hand over responsibility to others. Fortunately the link with the Community will be maintained through the Mother Superior and Community nominees on the Board and we are determined to ensure that the ethos of the original establishment is maintained. The Hospital is highly regarded in the area and its reputation has been achieved because we have a devoted and skilled staff. The Board now brings together both the expertise and the experience required to meet the challenges that will lie ahead and to lead this fine institution forward for a future generation”.

Mr. Pordham also added “With the Nursing Home offering care for those in need of convalescence or respite or longer stay and the Day Centre providing not only day care on site but also care in the home, All Hallows Healthcare Trust is now able to offer a comprehensive range of medical facilities and support which we hope to expand as needs arise.”