Richard House Children's Hospice chief executive Peter Ellis
Richard House Children's Hospice' chief executive Peter Ellis’ passion for dealing with death and the dying process has been a guiding influence throughout his career.This has led him to launch London first children’s hospice, in Newham, and has seen him dedicate more than a decade of his career to the hospice.
Peter first came into post at Richard House in August 1999 following his time as an Operations Manager at Barts and the London NHS Trust, managing Cancer Services and Clinical Haematology for five-and-a-half years. However, it was Peter’s time as a student nurse at the age of 20 that he realised he wanted to stand beside others on their journey from life through death.
"I was caring for a 15-year-old boy who was receiving palliative care when it really hit home," he said.
"Here was this teenager who was only five years younger than me and he was preparing for the end of his life as my adulthood was only starting to begin."
Peter subsequently completed his dissertation at the end of his degree studies examining the impact that dying teenagers have on nursing staff who care for them.
This encounter and subsequent reflections had an impact on Peter and began to shape his career in healthcare. His first job at the Royal London Hospital saw him working with people who had HIV/AIDS and he soon found himself on a three month exchange to the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio in the United States of America.
Peter said: "This was an extremely interesting time for me as I had the opportunity to expand and develop within the healthcare sector.
"I had the good fortune to attend ward rounds with a remarkable bioethicist who opened my mind to ethical patient decisions and how to help the patient, doctor and clinical team come to terms with their situation. This will help them make a sound judgment on how to proceed with their treatment or, in some cases, their death."
Peter’s interest in management also flourished following the NHS General Management Training scheme and he soon found himself as an Operations Manager at the Royal London NHS Trust.
"I found that I was able to combine my two areas of interest, management and healthcare, in one role and could start to influence my career by my drive to help people through their journey from life to death," said Peter.
This drive led Peter to have the incremental role he has at Richard House and has meant he has been involved with many of the hospice’s defining moments, particularly as he was appointed the post of chief executive before the first bricks had even been laid.
Such occasions include the move into the brand new building in January 2000, when the home services were launched in June 2000 and the opening of the day centre in November 2000.
All of these have left a lasting impression on Peter along with the official opening ceremony of the hospice that was attended by 500 people as well as a visit by the then Prime Minister’s wife Cherie Blair.
While the history of Richard House is important to Peter he is never one to focus on the past but is always considering how to improve and diversify the services that the hospice offers.
Peter said: "When looking to the future I would like Richard House to expand the collaboration and partnership working that we have with the local authorities, primary care trusts, other hospices and other voluntary organisations.
"It’s about planning and developing what we do with our resources to benefit children, young people and their families as we work in close partnership with other organisations.
"In the years ahead I would like Richard House to be considered a hub for palliative care, a resource centre to support as well as provide services for children, young adults, their carers and professionals in healthcare.
"This would be supplemented by an education and training centre for people who support children and their families.
"I hope that with the support of the local community and businesses that we are able to accomplish these goals and continue to provide the vital care that is delivered free of charge at Richard House."
During his career Peter has also been the chair of Children’s Hospice UK which came to an end in 2007. He is now a Trustee of Help the Hospices representing the work of Children’s Hospice UK.
He has also formerly been the Chair of YMCA as well as having involvement with the wider charity sector. Peter has also recently gained his MBA management degree through the Open University.
