New cancer hospice in Belfast

Marie Curie Cancer Care has today marked a major milestone in the redevelopment of its Belfast Hospice, with new patients now receiving the benefit of the first phase of the £3.2 million project.

The charity opened its new Inpatient unit, which is part of the ongoing ‘Living Rooms Appeal’ that aims to double the size of the hospice and improve care services here.

To date, the charity has raised £1.4 million, however the charity must raise a further £1.8 million before it realises its vision for October 2006, of becoming one of the very best palliative care hospices in the UK.

Marie Curie Cancer Care is a specialist care hospice in Belfast with 18 inpatient beds, outpatient clinics, family support and child bereavement services and it also provides an average of 47,300 hours of nursing care at home per year.

It works in partnership with local health trusts to provide education and support on palliative care for district nurses, of which there are currently just under 200 working in Northern Ireland.

On average, around 2,335 people visit the Marie Curie Hospice each month.

Caring Services Manger for Marie Curie Cancer Care in Northern Ireland, Maeve Hully, said: “Work began in May 2005 on the Living Rooms Appeal and in just one year we are on track to ensure that the Belfast Marie Curie Hospice offers to patients greater privacy, dignity, care and quality of life.

“We are excited to have reached this stage in the development and are delighted to see the patients moved into the newly built extension. The new Inpatient unit provides up to 18 patients with better quality of care. Rooms are now a lot more spacious and have their own private en suite. Each room also has its own patio and access to the new courtyard.

She continued: “All in all it is a much more relaxed and positive space for patients to call their own - we have already been receiving complements from visitors and patients. We now need to put all our efforts into raising the £1.8 million we still need to complete the job.”

In a bid to complete the project, building work will now begin on the existing Marie Curie building that will triple in size and completely revamp the existing Outpatient and Day Therapies.

Commenting on the ongoing development work, Alec Barclay, Fundraising Manager for Northern Ireland, said: “Living Rooms Appeal has made steady progress over the last year thanks to the generous donations from throughout the Northern Ireland community and I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank each individual for their donations . With the continued help and support of the larger community, I am confident that we will be able to reach our final total.”

To find out more about the ‘Living Rooms Appeal’ or to make a donation please go to www.mariecurie.org.uk/livingrooms, ring 028 9088 2044 or contact Julie Thomas, Living Rooms Appeal Fundraising Manager, Marie Curie Cancer Care, 60 Knock Rd, Belfast BT5 6LQ.

(EF)