BASINGSTOKE MP Maria Miller has praised a prominent charity in the town after touring its updated facilities.

Mrs Miller visited St Michael’s Hospice, in the grounds of Basingstoke hospital, to see the new garden for patients, which opened in May.

The garden includes a therapeutic labyrinth, which acts as a form of stress relief by encouraging visitors to concentrate on the path in front of them. The labyrinth was built using a grant from the Department of Health.

Mrs Miller said: “St Michael’s is a fantastic local facility, which many families from Basingstoke and further afield rely on at their most difficult times. I was delighted to visit the hospice again and to see how the plans for improvement that I heard about on my previous visit have been realised.”

Mrs Miller, who is also Minister for Disabled People, met Tony Holden, chairman of the hospice trust board, to discuss further developments and future plans, including for the Hospice at Home service.

In total, the hospice received £280,000 funding from the Department of Health. It used the money to refurbish some interior rooms as well as make alterations to the grounds.

Mrs Miller said: “I was also very pleased to be able to meet some of the staff and volunteers, without whose dedication it would not be possible for the hospice to provide top-quality care to patients and their families.”