1970s Dr Ronald Fisher (1917 – 2007) a Consultant Anaesthetist at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Bournemouth, visits St Christopher’s Hospice in London researching end of life care. He invites Dame Cicely Saunders to give a lecture at the Bournemouth and Poole Medical Society.
Dr Fisher is inspired to set up a hospice on an NHS hospital campus, the first within the state system.
Dr Fisher starts an appeal to raise funds for the hospice.
A third of the cost of the build was donated by the League of Friends of the Royal Victoria Hospital. A third of the cost was raised by the local community, and the final third was a donation from the National Society for Cancer Relief.
1973 The Duchess of Roxburghe, chairman of the National Society for Cancer Relief laid the foundation stone of the new unit.
1974 The Macmillan Cancer Trust is formed to fundraise and support the Macmillan Unit in partnership with the NHS.
1975 The 25 bed Macmillan Unit is opened as a Hospice and specialist palliative care ward.
1976 An extension is built onto the Macmillan Unit to provide offices for a new service, a team of specialist Nurses who will visit patients in their homes.
1980 An extension is built onto the Macmillan Unit for a 15 person Day Centre.
1983 A Teaching Wing and extra office accommodation is added to the Unit.
1985 Arts & crafts, aromatherapy and day excursions started for Day Centre patients.
1986 Albany Lodge Hotel in Southbourne is opened. A holiday hotel for people with life limiting illnesses.
1994 A new Macmillan coach is purchased. A coach garage and stores for community beds is built.
1994 An extension is built to upgrade relatives’ overnight accommodation.
1994 Alterations are made to accommodate extra Specialist Palliative Care Nurses.
1995 The Macmillan Unit garden is landscaped, a new aviary sited in the garden, and a conservatory for the Day Centre is built.
1996 Macmillan Cancer Trust provides a major contribution towards the building of the Macmillan Unit Chapel.
1998 The Macmillan Unit has a major upgrade including double glazing, variable height baths and ceiling mounted televisions above every bed.
1999 A new entrance with extra car parking is built. Alterations to the Hospital X-ray department including funding of ultrasound equipment.
1999 Specialist community hospital beds and other home care equipment are purchased.
2005 A new specialist bathroom and store is built.
2008 A new specialist wet room for MND patients is constructed.
2009 Children’s play area built to include computers, games machines and arts & crafts area.
2009 The Macmillan Cancer Trust changes name to Macmillan Caring Locally.
2009 The Macmillan Unit is awarded Practice Development Unit Status, making it a Centre of Excellence.
2010 The Aromatherapy treatment room is completely refurbished.
2011 Albany Lodge Hotel is sold, and the larger Grove Hotel in Bournemouth opens.
2012 Funding of dedicated Physiotherapy posts for the Macmillan Unit and the community.
2017 The Macmillan Unit receives the Princess Royal Training Award.
2018 The Macmillan Unit Volunteer Team receive the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.
2022 The new service, Hospice at Home is established.
2024 50th anniversary of Macmillan Caring Locally.