Dr Kershaw’s Hospice has a long history in Oldham dating back to over 100 years ago when Dr John Kershaw, a local GP dreamt of creating a hospital for the people of Royton. The hospital opened its doors in 1931 and after 50 years, Medical Director, Mr Naru Hira launched an appeal to create a hospice in Oldham.
Our History
With generous community donations along with Dr Kershaw’s legacy, Dr Kershaw’s Hospice officially opened its doors in 1989.
Since then, the Hospice has been providing free, specialist palliative and end-of-life care for adults with life-limiting illnesses in Oldham and its surrounding areas in a peaceful and homely environment.
Independent Hospice
As an independent Hospice and a registered charity, we need to raise £5.4 million* to provide our vital services. With less than 1/4 of this funded by the Integrated Care System (ICS), we must raise the remaining 3/4 through fundraising, donations, legacies, our Hospice shops and our Hospice Lottery, for which we are grateful that so many of you support.
*2025-26 budget figure with expected rises each year
Our IVF history showcased in Netflix film, Joy
Dr Kershaw’s is proud of our part in the history of IVF treatment, documented in the Netflix chart-topper, ‘Joy.’
The film stars Bill Nighy, James Norton and Thomasin McKenzie and follows the incredible work of the British scientists who changed fertility treatment forever.
Jean Purdy, Patrick Steptoe and Robert (Bob) Edwards established a research laboratory on the grounds of Dr Kershaw’s – then known as Dr Kershaw’s Cottage Hospital – in 1971.
Dr Kershaw’s Hospice then and now…
