Could Compton Hospice be about to change its name?

The move would be part of wider plans for the Wolverhampton-based charity as it presses ahead with a revamp of its Compton West Road site, thanks to a £1 million donation by ex-Goodyear workers.

No decision has been made on a new brand or name but it is believed ‘Compton’ and the colour yellow would remain. It follows research and consultation with staff, patients, and supporters.

The hospice’s CEO Claire Marshall said: “The research showed that the charity is often referred to affectionately as ‘Compton’. However, it also revealed a significant amount of confusion about what Compton actually does and some fears around the word ‘hospice’.

“Patients, staff and external stakeholders fed back that the word ‘hospice’ was interpreted as being ‘a place to die’.

“The organisation now faces the challenge of repositioning its brand to ensure it more accurately reflects the services it provides now and in the future.

“A decision has not yet been made on the final brand for Compton, further consultation and feedback is still being conducted and as ever patients must remain at the heart of our decision making.”

The hospice has been supporting patients facing a terminal and life-limiting illness, and their families, for 35 years.

Its services are available free-of-charge to people in Wolverhampton, Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall, South Staffordshire and east Shropshire – an area with 1.3 million residents. It has 18 beds at its main Compton West Road site but the majority of its care takes place in people’s homes.

It has a team of more than 900 volunteers and around 300 employees, including doctors, nurses and support workers. As well as community nurses, it offers complementary therapies, counselling, physiotherapy and The Woods day therapy centre.

Elsewhere, Lichfield’s St Giles Hospice recently rebranded, swapping its green colour scheme for orange and Douglas Macmillan Hospice is now known as ‘DougieMac’.