A CHILDREN’S hospice which closed for 19 months, whilst a £4 million refurbishment was carried out, was officially reopened on Monday by a famous news reader.

Alastair Stewart OBE, patron of Naomi House Hospice, was helped by three-year-old Mikey Strachan to cut the ribbon and unveil the new facilities to more than 100 invited guests.

Naomi House first opened in 1997 providing a home-from-home care environment, but as families' needs changed over the years, the hospice needed updating.

The project launched in February last year to ensure the hospice could accommodate the latest equipment and to create a new space in which to care for children.

During the closure, children stayed at Naomi House’s sister hospice Jacksplace, which is next door to the site.

At the opening ceremony, Mr Stewart explained what the new hospice will mean for families and staff, and said: “We make precious time priceless. We make difficult times bearable, and heartbreak, well, we’re there. Loving, flexible and sometimes just silent. But we are there.

“Towards the end of September these lovely families and many others like them will stride in here and make use of this place. In the periods between now and then, our magnificent, brilliant, fearless staff will be learning the ropes.

“So I suppose the bottom line is to say thank you. Thank you for what you’ve all done. Thank you for allowing a magnificent crew to do a magnificent job for a magnificent group of our fellow human beings who are a little younger than we are and may not be here for as long as we are.”

The new facilities include hoists throughout the building, piped oxygen and suction in every room, a never-before-seen heating system that can maintain precise temperatures in each room, and an array of sensory equipment for children with special needs.

Mark Smith, chief executive, said: “Naomi House is now the most advanced children’s hospice in the region, providing a fully comprehensive hospice service to families, under the guidance of a specially trained Paediatric Palliative Care Consultant and medical team.”

The new hospice includes larger bedrooms, additional bathrooms, a new ‘Butterfly’ bereavement suite, spiritual spaces, therapy rooms, sensory room, wheelchair charging points and luxurious family accommodation for families.

The garden has also undergone a major transformation and contractors are busy creating a number of distinct spaces, including two quiet spaces for peaceful contemplation, a roof garden that is accessed through the hospice’s new spiritual space and a children’s garden that features an enormous wheelchair accessible galleon, water features and play equipment.

Naomi House is holding an open day and fete this Saturday for the public to see the refurbishment.

Attractions will include a petting farm, shops, blue lights vehicles, bouncy castles, a barbecue, and the chance to meet Spider-Man and Frozen’s Elsa.

Entry costs £3 for adults and £1 for children. Under fives can come along for free.