OUR MISSION STATEMENT
We aim to provide equitable, professional and ethical patient-centered care through a multifaceted approach aligned with universal health coverage.
Our history from yesteryear to date…
In the early 1990’s two ladies who happened to be very good friends and neighbours Laetitia le Grange and Lisa Klopper, a qualified nursing sister, started the foundation for what is today known as The Tygerberg Hospice Trust.
The two friends took a Hospice training course in Helderberg and started organising the formation of a local hospice in the Durbanville/Bellville area. This hospice consisted of a group of volunteers, mainly looking after terminally ill patients in their homes and providing assistance to their families.
In October 1994 The Tygerberg Hospice was officially founded. Henriette Venter served on the committee and was the liaison between Hospice and The Rotary Club of Bellville.
In early 1995 the committee accepted an offer of St. Luke’s Hospice Kenilworth to become a “satellite” of them. St. Luke’s provided and paid for a nurse along with the cost of her vehicle and they also assisted with the training of the first groups of volunteers. The St. Luke’s connection was added to The Tygerberg Hospice logo.
In 1996 under Cecily Cole’s management Tygerberg Hospice grew rapidly. By the end of the year it became clear that they no longer needed to operate under the guidance of St. Luke’s Hospice and a decision was made to become independent again.
The committee members approached the Municipality for assistance. A house was made available in Maree Street, Bellville, on a 99-year lease agreement.
With the help of volunteers and service organisations, the house and outbuildings were refurbished to better suit the needs of a hospice.
From 1 registered nurse, 5 volunteers and 25 patients in 1997, Tygerberg Hospice has helped thousands of patients over the years!
In March 1997 a trust was established and registered as The Tygerberg Hospice Trust with social development in November 1997 under Cecily Cole’s chairmanship. It was started with 1 registered nurse, 5 volunteers and 25 patients, operating from the Maree Street property. Generous donations of second-hand clothing, books and furniture poured in. Two dedicated volunteers worked tirelessly to convert the garage of the house into a charity shop. The shop was run by a group of volunteers and soon proved to be a good source of constant income.
In November 1999 The Tygerberg Hospice Trust was registered as a Non-Profit Organisation.
In September 2001 Tygerberg Hospice purchased its first property at 8 Sarel Cilliers Street, Bellville. This had the ideal locality, almost next door to the Maree Street property which could still be retained. The Home-Based Palliative Care Centre was run from here and the office space was used by staff. The Care Team consisted of Palliative Sisters, a Social Worker, a Medical Doctor and a Spiritual councellor. This building was also used for Administration, Fundraising and Day Care for patients. The Maree Street property was converted into a Charity Shop which is today known as the Sunshine Shop.
In March 2003, a second property was purchased at 7 Sarel Cilliers Street, Bellville. Today, this building serves as our Head Office, housing our Human Resources, Finance, and Operations departments.
On 18 February 2011, Tygerberg Hospice officially opened a Transitional Care Facility at Karl Bremer Hospital in partnership with the Department of Health and Wellness. Today this facility operates as a 50-bed, 24-hour, 7 days week facility. The unit has an average of 50 staff members who host and treat +/- 70 patients per month with a bed occupancy of 85% per month with patient/family interventions of +/- 245 people per month. The multi-disciplinary team assist with rehabilitation and improving the quality of life of all patients.
Lucille Mitchell has been a valued member of The Tygerberg Hospice Trust since 2004 and has played an integral role in the organisation’s growth, development, and ongoing commitment to delivering compassionate, person-centred care within the communities it serves.
Throughout her tenure, she has contributed significantly to strengthening the Hospice’s organisational structures, operational systems, and community-based services. Her work has also extended to broader healthcare, hospice, and community initiatives aimed at improving access to quality care and support.
In May 2019, Lucille was appointed General Manager of The Tygerberg Hospice Trust. In this role, she provides strategic and operational leadership across the organisation, overseeing governance, healthcare service delivery, financial sustainability, fundraising, organisational development, and the advancement of palliative, transitional, and community-based care services.
Palliative Care at the Heart of Healthcare
Central to Lucille’s leadership is the belief that palliative care is an essential component of quality healthcare and should be accessible according to a patient’s needs, not only at the end of life.
She advocates for the early integration of palliative care alongside appropriate disease-directed treatment throughout the course of serious illness. Its purpose is to improve quality of life, prevent and relieve suffering, and provide holistic support that addresses the physical, psychological, social, and spiritual needs of patients and their families.
Lucille is committed to strengthening an integrated, person-centred continuum of care that connects hospitals, transitional care, primary healthcare services, community-based programmes, and care within the home.
Strengthening Transitional and Community-Based Care
Within this continuum, transitional care plays a vital role in bridging different levels and settings of healthcare. It supports medically stable patients who no longer require acute hospitalisation but still benefit from short-term multidisciplinary care, rehabilitation, nursing support, symptom management, psychosocial assistance, and preparation for a safe return to their homes and communities.
Palliative care may form part of a patient’s journey across hospital, transitional care, primary healthcare, hospice, community, and home-based settings, depending on the individual’s needs, circumstances, and preferences.
This integrated approach recognises that healthcare needs evolve throughout the course of illness and that effective care depends on strong coordination among healthcare professionals, support services, families, and communities.
Leadership and Service
Lucille’s leadership has guided The Tygerberg Hospice Trust through periods of significant change, including the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Throughout these experiences, she has remained focused on ensuring continuity of care, organisational sustainability, and access to essential healthcare services.
She is passionate about ensuring that people living with serious and life-limiting illnesses receive care that protects their dignity, comfort, and quality of life, while recognising and supporting the vital role that families and caregivers play throughout the care journey.
Together with the Tygerberg Hospice team and its healthcare partners, Lucille continues to strengthen the organisation’s capacity to deliver integrated palliative, transitional, and community-based care. This work is supported by multidisciplinary teams, ongoing professional development, and strong collaboration across the healthcare system.
Her vision is to build upon the rich legacy of The Tygerberg Hospice Trust while positioning the organisation for the future, with palliative care at its heart and a continuum of compassionate care that connects hospital, transitional care, primary healthcare, community services, and home-based support.
Over the years Tygerberg Hospice has grown from strength to strength and to date operates with a fleet of seven vehicles, as well as medical equipment, enabling the Nursing Staff to render much-needed services within the community. The Care Team is trained, developed, and equipped to maintain a high level of quality care.
There are currently two fully operational charity shops: Sunshine, located in Maree Street, Bellville, and Treasure Chest, situated at Nobel Park Shopping Centre, Bellville.