WINCHESTER MP Steve Brine has praised plans for a new 10-bed hospice on the site of Royal Hampshire County Hospital.

As reported in the Chronicle, Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust wants to convert the currently unused Burrell House to support patients with life-limiting illnesses and their families.

With no hospice currently situated in the city, the facility aims to open its doors by early 2019.

Mr 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 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.

“£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.”

There are plans for the new hospice to have services both on site and in the community including a hospice at home service to support patients who wish to remain at home in the last few weeks of their life, inpatient beds with ensuite facilities and a space for day therapy and outpatient facilities.

More than £2.5 million is needed to refurbish Burrell House which the Trust hopes to raise through a fundraising campaign.

More information about the hospice will be given at a free Health Focus talk being held at Winchester Guildhall on November 28 at 6.30pm, when the palliative care team and executives from the Trust will speak about end of life care and plans for the new hospice and the forthcoming launch of a fundraising campaign.