2022 – Over the past 5 years The Norfolk Hospice Tapping House has continued to build on its reputation as a provider of excellent palliative and end of life care. Care continues to be delivered in the Inpatient Unit, the home environment or in our Rehabilitative Palliative Care Outpatient Department. The Hospice has recently introduced "The Tulip Centre" to further support individuals who live with or care for those with life-limiting illnesses. The centre provides a range of practical and emotional support.

2021 – The Hospice received funds to recruit a Care Home Liaison Nurse. This role acknowledged the growing number of people who will choose to receive their end of life care in a Care Home. The post holder will actively engage with Care Homes in the West Norfolk area to ensure their staff feel confident and supported in the delivery of best practice care.

2020 – The Hospice was commissioned set up and deliver an out of hours Rapid Response service that incorporates a carer support line.

2017 - The Hospice opened The Dr Hugh Ford Inpatient Unit on 15th June 2017.

2016 - Her Majesty the Queen formally opened the new building at Hillington on February 4th 2016.

2014 - The Hospice moved into a new purpose built facility at Hillington in September 2014. Following the move, one thousand patients were referred to the Hospice in the first 20 months. The new Hospice facility was built with provision and plans for a bedded, Inpatient Unit (IPU). The new unit will consist of nine beds, with space for further expansion, in line with local demand.

2013 - Building work began at the site in Hillington in August 2013. 

2012 - The Hospice formed a partnership with Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust and Marie Curie Cancer care to provide a Hospice at Home service.

2011 - The turf was cut and the groundworks started at the Hillington site. 

2009 - Planning permission was granted to build a purpose built Hospice in Hillington.

2008 - Land made available by Lady Jane Dawnay and husband Mr Ned Dawnay, was obtained in 2008. 

2005 - Charity shops were opened in Downham Market and King's Lynn. 

2002 - Ken Dodd starts the first ever Lottery draw in October 2002 at the Princess Theatre -and finds a winner in the audience.

2001 - The Hospice was extended in 2001, and the gardens redeveloped. Construction trainees from CITB helped to build the gardens designed by Tim Leese of Holkham Nursery Gardens. The materials were largely provided by a donation from Lynn’s Priory Rotary Club.

2000 - At the beginning of 2000, it was formally announced that Tapping House Hospice was the ‘new’ name for West Norfolk Hospice Ltd. The ‘seahorses’ logo was launched at the same time. The seahorses on the logo are taken from the village sign for Snettisham, and the colour purple from the surrounding lavender fields. 

1998 - The charity moved from 22 Common Road to 38a Common Road. The first Light up a Life service was held, providing the local community with the opportunity to remember their loved ones in the lead up to Christmas. 

1996 - Tapping House Hospice was registered with the Charity Commission. 

1994 - Campaign Care ‘94 started with the objective of raising funds for Tapping House Hospice and the Bob Champion Cancer Trust.

1992 - Her Majesty the Queen made her first visit to the Hospice on 5th February 1992, the 40th anniversary of her accession, meeting staff and patients, and also local children. Her Majesty was introduced to staff by Dr Hugh Ford and by Chairman Canon Alan Glendining, and to patients by Hospice sister Judith Clarke.

1990 - The first Hospice charity shop opened in Hunstanton.

1988 - The growth of the service led to the opening of a day hospice.

1985 - Muriel Tapping, one of Dr Hugh Ford’s patients died and part of her legacy was used to fund the purchase of larger day care premises in Snettisham, and the building was named Tapping House in memory of this benefactor.

1984 - Dr Hugh Ford, a GP based in Snettisham, West Norfolk, led the founding of what was to become The Norfolk Hospice Tapping House as a support service for people with palliative care needs. The service relied on trained volunteers at that time, and care and support was delivered to patients in their own homes.

Dr Hugh Ford CVO, DObst RCOG, FRCGP  

Born in 1929, Dr Hugh Ford was a GP based in Heacham where he was senior partner for most of his 33 years in practice. Early in his career he was appointed apothecary to the royal household at Sandringham, a post he held for 23 years.

Deeply involved in medical education, in 1970 Dr Ford was instrumental in starting the local vocational training scheme, one of the first in East Anglia, and subsequently for many years was course organiser. An early member of the Royal College of General Practitioners, he eventually became provost of the East Anglian faculty.

Dr Ford’s interest in palliative care culminated in 1984 in his founding the North-West Norfolk Home Hospice Support Group. He served on the Management Committee, bringing both practical medical advice and the assistance of useful contacts to the early years as the organisation strove to get established. His interest in the Hospice led him to establish the ‘Going for Gold’ initiative aimed at increasing the level of expertise in palliative care both among Hospice staff and in the local medical community. This level of interest was also displayed in 1990, when he joined in the fundraising Fun Run on the Dersingham- Snettisham bypass. Dr Ford continued to be involved with the Hospice up to the time of his death in 2004. His family remains supportive of the Hospice and attended the opening of the new building at Hillington where they were introduced to Her Majesty the Queen. 

1967 - Modern Hospice movement was started by Dame Cicely Saunders with the opening of St Christopher’s Hospice in London.

Dame Cicely Saunders

Born in 1918, Dame Cicely Saunders studied nursing at St Thomas' Hospital. She later trained to be a medical social worker and finally a physician. The relationship she developed with a dying Polish refugee helped solidify her ideas that terminally ill patients needed compassionate care to help address their fears and concerns as well as palliative comfort for physical symptoms. 

In 1967 she founded St Christopher's Hospice - the first Hospice linking expert pain and symptom control, compassionate care, teaching and clinical research.