Severn Hospice gets permission for Shrewsbury site expansion plan
A plan for a multi-million pound expansion of the Severn Hospice's services in Shrewsbury has been given the go-ahead.
Shropshire Council's planning department has approved plans for an expansion of the charity's Oxon site with the creation of a 'living well centre'.
The development follows Telford & Wrekin Council approving proposals for another "living well centre" at the charity's Apley Castle site in Telford earlier this year.
The new centres are intended to ensure the charity is ready for "the future of hospice care".
The 'living well centres' will house clinics, therapy rooms, a cafe and shop, palliative rehabilitation areas and day rooms.
In Shrewsbury the new two-storey building housing the centre will be built on what is currently an overspill car park and allotments for hospice volunteers. In Telford the Living Well Centre would be an extension to the existing building.
Heather Palin, deputy chief executive and director of care at Severn Hospice, said the charity was thrilled to have made more progress in its bid to create the new centres.
She said: “We are absolutely delighted that planning permission has been granted for both sites, this is an important step in making our living well ambition a reality."
The charity said that the plans for both sites form part of the hospice’s ‘living well’ concept – where patient care and support extends beyond wards and inpatient services.
Ms Palin added: “Most of our patients are now looked after in the comfort of their own home, with our inpatient facilities playing a supporting role. We will always have wards and strive to be a centre of excellence for our inpatient care but we are so much more community based these days and we need to ensure our facilities always match the changing needs and expectations of our patients."
Ms Palin said the focus will now turn to funding for the centres.
She said: "Now we have secured planning permission for both sites our board of trustees will decide on the appropriate funding strategy to take the proposals further. These are exciting and ambitious plans and it is only right that we plan carefully how best to fund this project.”
