Staff and volunteers at Blythe House Hospicecare and Helen’s Trust are deeply saddened that one of the charity’s founders and patrons, Doctor Louise Jordan, has died.  

Dr Jordan died peacefully at home on 23rd December 2023, after being diagnosed with primary lateral sclerosis (a rare form of motor neurone disease), in 2021. 

The highly respected local general practitioner was instrumental in the founding of Bakewell-based charity, Helen’s Trust back in 2001; established in memory of Helen Lyon from Froggatt, after she died at home following her diagnosis with breast cancer. Dr Jordan led the charity and was chair of trustees until 2020. 

The aim of the charity was to enable other patients across rural Derbyshire Dales communities to have the same choices that Helen had done – to be cared for and die in the comfort of their own home. 

For 25 years, Dr Jordan treated patients at Baslow Health Centre, where she also starred in The Real Peak Practice, a television show broadcast in 2015 about the day-to-day management of the rural surgery. 

In 2020, Helen’s Trust merged with fellow local end of life care charity, Blythe House Hospicecare, in order to extend hospice care to more patients at home across the High Peak, Derbyshire Dales and North East Derbyshire. Following the partnership with Blythe House,Dr Jordan joined the board of trustees and served as deputy chair.

Tim Mourne, chairman of the board of trustees at Blythe House Hospicecare and Helen’s Trust, said: ‘Everyone at the hospice is deeply saddened to hear the news of Louise’s death, and our thoughts are with her husband Rob, all her family, and loved ones at this incredibly sad time. I am comforted to know that Louise died peacefully at home surrounded by her loved ones, with support from the Blythe House and Helen’s Trust Hospice at Home team, just as she wished.

‘Louise was a caring, highly respected and dedicated local GP for many, many years, and her commitment to good end of life care and ensuring her patients had a “good death” was profoundly clear through her professional work, and also her devotion to Helen’s Trust. 

‘The charity came a long way since its inception over two decades ago, and our mission remains the same as its founders first intended: to provide free care and support to local patients who wish to spend the remainder of their days in the comfort of their own home, with their loved ones beside them. It’s thanks to Louise and her enthusiasm, devotion, and foresight, that the charity is where it is today. Her legacy will be remembered and carried on for years to come.’

At the hospice’s annual general meeting in November 2022, Dr Jordan was acknowledged for decades of dedicated service, by being made a founding patron of the charity. 

Speaking at the AGM back in 2022, Ruth Brown, member of the hospice’s board of trusteesand close friend to Dr Jordan, commented: ‘I have known Louise for many years since being an auxiliary nurse at Baslow Medical Centre, to becoming community matron after undertaking my nursing degree.

‘Louise changed the landscape when she came to the surgery – everyone was so excited to have her there. She was dynamic, innovative; she put caring for an ageing population in a rural community on the agenda, and we featured on the television show, The Real Peak Practice.

‘I have learnt so much from her and keep all Louise’s great advice in my “tool box,” from speaking to patients with such respect and compassion, to sharing bad news with patients and their families. I bow to you Louise, and I thank you for everything you have achieved in your long and celebrated career.’