Severn Hospice's £575,000 revamp is nearly complete

Work has been taking place at the Severn Hospice building in Bicton Heath since March.

Changes to the structure of the building have included the creation of a conservatory, a sanctuary for people of all faiths and improved rooms for patients.

The majority of funding for the project has come from the Department of Health, with the rest paid for through legacies and donations.

An open day at the hospice for the public will be taking place tomorrow between 11am and 7pm, with hourly tours giving people an insight into the recent changes.

Builders have been busy at hospice since March.

The hospice has already seen its kitchens refurbished and improvements to its day facilities during the work.

The second phase of the three-phase scheme, which will see improvements to the Breidden Ward, will finish later this week.

Heather Palin, Severn Hospice nursing director, said: "We needed to bring the patient areas of the hospice up to the standards expected in the 21st century.

"The patients and their families are going through a very difficult time and they need to have the comfort and support we can give in the right environment.

"The Breidden ward was 17 years old. The rooms were not designed for single occupancy and some were not en-suite. Now, each room is single occupancy and each room is en-suite.

"This does make a big difference for our patients. I'm thrilled with the end result."

The work has cost £575,000, three-quarters of which came from a Department of Health grant.

The remainder was paid for by legacies and donations.

One of the most important areas to have undergone a transformation is the former chapel, which has now become a sanctuary.

Ms Palin said: "We needed to be able to cater for all faiths and beliefs and we felt we weren't able to do this with the traditional chapel.

"So, we have created a sanctuary, where people can come, sit, pray or reflect depending on their individual belief and need."

The sanctuary, which has doors opening on to the hospice's award-winning gardens, is a peaceful place with minimal distractions.

"It is meant to be a place they can feel comfortable whether they believe or not," said Ms Palin.

"The old chapel wasn't accessible to those on the wards. Now, with a new layout, anyone who wishes to will be able to get in to the sanctuary and the doors are wide enough to accommodate a bed too."

There is also a new conservatory, kitted out with chairs in zesty lime greens and creams, which was built thanks to a single donation of £61,000.

"It was an incredible donation," said Ms Palin, "and it has helped us to improve the patient experience.

"The conservatory will be somewhere the patients can spend time with their families, other than in their rooms and enjoy the garden, even on a rainy day." While building work has been ongoing, the hospice had to reduce the number of beds it had available from 16 to 11, but managers said it was a cut that will pay dividends in years to come.

Ms Palin said: "Reducing the number of beds for a short time was an uncomfortable decision to make, but we have been offering patients the opportunity to go our second site at Apley Castle at Telford.

"But it was a necessary evil. To reduce the number of beds for 12 weeks while work was being carried out will mean that we will be able to meet the standards patients expect for years to come."

An open day for anyone interested in the work of the hospice and the facilities it has to offer is on Wednesday from 11am to 7pm.

"We will be giving hourly tours around the hospice," said Ms Palin.

"We wish to change people's perceptions of what the hospice does and it will give us the opportunity to show people what we have achieved."