Opening is proud day for hospice (From Warrington Guardian)

Opening is proud day for hospice

STAFF and supporters of a hospice in mid Cheshire looked on with pride as St Luke's opened its new £540,000 East Wing.

Trustees, members of the committee, staff, former staff, contributors and supporters of the hospice, in Winsford, gathered for the event last Wednesday, which was opened by president Rosie Spielberg.

Just over half the money has been raised in 10 months for the building, which will increase the capacity for therapy, counselling services, training facilities and education.

Education is very important for staff, who pass on their expertise not only at the hospice but also in the wider community, in nursing homes and other NHS services.

Rosie Spiegelberg is a founder member of the hospice and first got involved with the charity in 1983 to 1984 when the committee met over Pennington's butcher shop in Middlewich.

She said: "The outreach approach is a key area in our work. We believe in offering care in the community not just at the hospice.

"It is important that our skills and knowledge are passed on to other staff.

"We are working with the NHS on this. It is vital we are not doing this on our own."

The wing will house two more rooms for community therapists, more room for groups of carers for the patients, a room for a physiotherapist to hold a class and space for a family support team. It will also have facilities to train its own staff as well as staff from other hospices and a degree course is being run.

Steve Bradbury, capital appeal manager of St Luke's said he was hopeful the rest of the money for the East Wing would be raised by May next year.

"We are moving into a series of events from fishing competitions, gardening evenings to auctions," he said.

"That with the rest of the fundraising will hopefully take us to the target by May 2006."

He added: "It is a very proud day for the whole hospice. We couldn't have done it without everyone's help.

"If you don't have people from the community at large who are prepared to give you money then you can't fundraise."

Arthur Freeman, chairman of St Luke's Hospice, recalled the difference in the hospice today compared with when it first began in 1985. He said: "It was impossible to imagine anything like this - it was impossible to imagine what would actually be needed.

"We were originally looking at 10 beds and 10 day patients. There is such a demand for what we do now. We are so pleased with the amount of money which has been raised so far."

He added: "The one thing which gives me comfort is that there are certain funds which are willing to support you after you have raised the first 50 per cent."