A MAN whose single-minded determination led to the creation of a Blackburn hospice has been rewarded with a lifetime achievement award.

Dr Merton Seigleman, 91, realised a lifelong ambition when East Lancashire Hospice was opened 30 years ago.

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At the Hospice UK national awards in Leeds, Dr Seigleman was described as ‘the very worthy winner’ of The Anne Norfolk Lifetime Achievement Award 2014.

Dr Seigleman has been involved in hospice care for more than 40 years. After becoming a consultant anaesthetist in Blackburn in 1961, part of his continuing studies into pain control introduced him to the work of Dame Cicely Saunders.

Inspired by her work, Dr Seigleman took the first steps to transform end of life care in East Lancashire.

Describing his motivation, Dr Seigleman said: “My mother was diagnosed with cancer of the breast when she was 43. It was inoperable and she came home to die. I watched her die in agony for weeks. When you’re 16 that makes a lasting impression on you.

“There was a lot of opposition. Some consultants felt it would be money wasted and some GPs thought they knew best about pain relief.”

Undeterred, he spoke to the then hospitals trust chairman, who called a public meeting.

It was agreed that if the East Lancashire public could fund a hospice building, the NHS would staff it and meet its running costs. A fundraising committee was set up and pockets of fundraising groups worked tirelessly, raising a staggering £700,000 for the project.

On May 12, 1983, Dr Seigleman laid the foundation stone for the new, purpose built, 10-bed in-patient unit. And on June 21, 1984 the East Lancashire Hospice first opened its doors, with Dr Seigleman at the helm.

Hospice chief executive Lyn Stevenson said: “Being in the hospice, each day we see the impact of what Dr Seigleman’s dream has had on our many patients and their families. “Whenever you are out and about in the East Lancashire area, we are constantly reminded of the drive and enthusiasm Dr Seigleman showed in encouraging the community to get behind him to build the hospice with his vision being to stop others having to suffer in pain as his mother had, and this award is a national recognition of those achievements.

“In the hospice’s 30th year, we are extremely proud of our founder and what the hospice has become today.

“ As Dr Seigleman said over 30 years ago, ‘ We can’t stop our patients dying, but we could make sure that what time they had left was good quality time’.”