Sister Frances Dominica Ritchie
Encyclopedia
Sister Frances Dominica Ritchie, OBE
, DL
, FRCN is a British nurse, specializing in palliative care. She founded two hospices ("respices") for seriously ill young people.
, where her grandfather was a Presbyterian elder. Later she relocated to Surrey
with her parents.
Her younger brother, David Ritchie, had been born with only one lung and she often visited him at Great Ormond Street. She attended the Cheltenham Ladies' College
before returning to Great Ormond Street to train as a paediatric nurse. During her training she was seconded to the Middlesex Hospital to do her General Training. She joined the All Saints Sisters of the Poor, an Anglican order. She became novice mistress and later mother superior
by the age of 35.
Helen House website. A full account of the history of Helen House can be found in 'A House Called Helen', written by Helen's mother, Jacqueline Worswick.
in 2004 and which is built in the same grounds as Helen House. Both houses offer respite care, accompanied by members of the family if they so choose, end-of-life care, and family support from the time of referral for as many years after the death of the young person as the family may wish.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, DL
DL
DL, dL, or dl may stand for:Measurement of volume* the symbol of the decilitre , an SI unit of measurement of capacity or volume Science and tech* Data link, a computer connection for transmitting data...
, FRCN is a British nurse, specializing in palliative care. She founded two hospices ("respices") for seriously ill young people.
Early life
Born Frances Dorothy Lyon Ritchie in Inverness, she was brought up in EdinburghEdinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, where her grandfather was a Presbyterian elder. Later she relocated to Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
with her parents.
Her younger brother, David Ritchie, had been born with only one lung and she often visited him at Great Ormond Street. She attended the Cheltenham Ladies' College
Cheltenham Ladies' College
The Cheltenham Ladies' College is an independent boarding and day school for girls aged 11 to 18 in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England.-History:The school was founded in 1853...
before returning to Great Ormond Street to train as a paediatric nurse. During her training she was seconded to the Middlesex Hospital to do her General Training. She joined the All Saints Sisters of the Poor, an Anglican order. She became novice mistress and later mother superior
Mother Superior
A mother superior is an abbess or other nun in charge of a Christian religious order or congregation, a convent or house of women under vows.Mother superior may also refer to:*Mother Superior , a rock band who became ¾ of Rollins Band circa 2000...
by the age of 35.
Helen House Hospice
Helen House hospice was founded in 1982, inspired by two year old Helen Worswick. Sister Frances met Helen after a operation to remove a brain tumour left Helen severely disabled. The friendship which Frances developed with Helen and her parents proved the inspiration for the UK's first children's hospice. More information on the work of Helen House today can be found at theHelen House website. A full account of the history of Helen House can be found in 'A House Called Helen', written by Helen's mother, Jacqueline Worswick.
Douglas House
Sister Frances went on to found Douglas House, a "respice" for people between 16 and 40 with life-shortening conditions, which was opened by HM The QueenElizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
in 2004 and which is built in the same grounds as Helen House. Both houses offer respite care, accompanied by members of the family if they so choose, end-of-life care, and family support from the time of referral for as many years after the death of the young person as the family may wish.