Hampshire Hospitals have announced plans to convert Burrell House at the Royal Hampshire County Hospital into a 10-bed hospice supporting patients with life limiting illnesses and their families.
The Trust already provides end of life care out of the Countess of Brecknock Hospice in Andover and by its dedicated staff across its three hospitals which, at the latest Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection, was rated Outstanding.
By creating a new hospice in Winchester and continuing with plans to expand the Countess of Brecknock Hospice, the Trust says it can ensure even more people are able to access these valuable services.
The plan is to convert Burrell House at the Royal Hampshire County Hospital, once home to nurses and a medical training facility during the Second World War, into a 10-bedded hospice supporting patients with life limiting illnesses and their families
Winchester Hospice will also host day therapy and outpatient facilities on-site. In the community a 'hospice at home' service will be provided and a homecare team will be in place to ensure that patients can be carefully looked after and remain in their preferred place to die.
Respnding to the news, local MP Steve Brine said; "For years now people in Winchester have said we are lacking a hospice to care for adults. We have the world-leading Naomi House for children of course but nothing for older patients with life limiting conditions and their families. That was never sustainable in the long-term.
"The news that Hampshire Hospitals (HHFT) will build on their palliative care services, already ranked outstanding of course, by developing Burrell House into the Winchester Hospice is so very welcome. Great credit must go to the current, and immediately previous, leadership at Hampshire Hospitals who I had discussed this with many times. I know a lot of work has gone on to get us to this point."
HHFT say they hope to open Winchester Hospice in early 2019. To do so, they need to raise more than £2.5 million through charitable donations to refurbish Burrell House into a hospice that feels more like a home than a hospital, for the people of Winchester at the end of their lives. Thanks to a generous legacy, the Trust is already well on its way to this amount and hope we can achieve this.
Steve Brine adds; "£2.5 million is a lot of money but everything about this feels right and I know my constituents will really put their shoulder to the wheel and help us get over the line so the new facility can open on time in 2019. I will be right there with them and have already told the Trust I am fully on-board and will do everything I can to help.
"The bigger picture of course is that this is yet another positive portent for the future of the Royal Hampshire. I know the Trust is committed to our much loved hospital and, like me, wants to see it keep and indeed develop a wider-ranging suite of in-patient, outpatient and community services on the Romsey Road site."
A special Health Focus event will take place with Trust Chief Executive Alex Whitfield on Tuesday 28 November at the Guildhall, in Winchester from 6.30pm. She will be joined by the palliative care team speaking about end of life care and the developing plans for the Winchester Hospice.
Pictured; Steve Brine MP with Alex Whitfield (top) and the RHCH in Winchester seen from Romsey Road.
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