At Hospices of Hope, we believe it’s essential to have a presence in the capital city of any country where we work. Capitals are where key decisions are made; by ministries, health authorities, and legislators – and to advance palliative care, changes in policy and legislation are often necessary.
In December 2024, we entered into a partnership with Svoyi, a local Ukrainian organisation. Our country manager, Asya, immediately began the search for a suitable building to serve as an out-patient clinic, day center, and base for an expanded home-care team. Within weeks, Asya had found the perfect location. The building had previously operated as a medical clinic, and its former owner had since moved away. With some light redecoration and minor adjustments to meet current legal requirements, such as installing a ramp and a disabled-access toilet, the space was ready for use.
Thanks to the generous support of our donors, we’ve also been able to cover the full-time salary of Dr. Zoia, allowing her to leave her hospital position and dedicate herself fully to Svoyi. Additionally, we’re funding the salaries of two nurses and a medical secretary—building a strong compassionate team to deliver much needed care.
To mark the official opening of the new clinic, we reached out to H.E. Martin Harris, British Ambassador to Ukraine, who previously served as Ambassador to Romania and had become acquainted with our founder, Graham. We invited him to attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony and we were delighted when he gladly accepted.
On Thursday, 27th March at 11 a.m., the Svoyi team gathered alongside guests, sponsors, the Deputy Head of the National Health Service, and even a patient and his relative. Sunlight poured through the large clinic windows, and the atmosphere was filled with excitement and anticipation. Ambassador Harris delivered the opening speech, highlighting the importance of palliative care and its British roots. Graham followed, congratulating Svoyi on their achievements and expressing heartfelt thanks on behalf of Hospices of Hope and the donors who made this moment possible. Lesa, one of Svoyi’s founders, gave the third speech, thanking Hospices of Hope for their support and looking forward to this new chapter in Svoyi’s journey.
The Ambassador then cut the ribbon, and the moment was captured in photos to commemorate this important milestone.
A particularly touching moment came when Graham met Oleksandr, one of the clinic’s patients. Dressed smartly for the occasion and accompanied by his fiancée, Oleksandr spoke warmly about the care he had received from Dr. Zoia. He shared how much better he was feeling and emphasised how many others in Kyiv urgently need this kind of compassionate and specialist care.
Looking ahead, we remain committed to supporting Svoyi and our other partner charity in Ivano-Frankivsk, the St Panteleimon Foundation. Alongside this, we’re continuing to deliver online training for healthcare professionals across Ukraine. At present, we are halfway through a 30-week course for nurses, generously funded by the. Burdett Nursing Trust
