'Magical' hospice unit opens after £16m revamp

A new hospice facility which aims to "transform" the care given to patients and their families has opened its doors in West Yorkshire.

The £15.8m inpatient unit at Overgate Hospice in Elland has taken two years to build after a previous eight years of planning.

The site includes 16 private rooms with en suite bathrooms, a spiritual space, plus therapy and jacuzzi rooms with state-of-the-art sensory features.

Overgate Hospice chief executive Tracey Wilcocks described the new building as "truly magical".

"It is going to transform specialist and palliative care for people living with life-limiting illness here in Calderdale," she said.

"What they now will experience is something very different from what they did in our old hospice.

"We delivered absolutely amazing care by dedicated nurses, doctors and therapists and the good news is they're all coming with us - we are just delivering that same high-quality care in a different setting."

The new hospice building includes:

• 16 private, spacious bedrooms with accessible en suite bathrooms, internet connection and smart televisions
• Increased family spaces
• Therapy rooms
• Jacuzzi bathroom and state-of-the-art bath with sensory features including music, lights and bubbles
• A spiritual space
• Wildflower garden

The project has been paid for largely by fundraising, alongside grants and donations from local trusts and foundations.

"People have literally jumped out of planes, trekked mountains, run through streams of colour," Wilcocks added.

"Unimaginable things have happened to raise this money and I am incredibly proud."

Jessica Roche has been part of the fundraising effort after Overgate cared for her husband Oliver.

He spent three weeks at the hospice during treatment for a rare aggressive sarcoma cancer before his death in July 2016.

She said the care they both received made her feel "indebted" to helping support the construction of the new building.

After Oliver's death, Jessica wrote a letter of thanks to the hospice, but also suggested some ideas that might help families feel more comfortable, which were implemented when the new hospice was being designed.

She said: "The level of care that Overgate Hospice provides has always been exceptional, but sometimes the facilities have constrained that.

"We stand here today in a completely transformed hospice with all of those recommendations and more factored into the environment.

"There is a sofa bed for the patient and their partner to sleep at night, cuddle up and have those home comforts in a very emotional time.

"It will mean the whole trauma of end-of-life care can be more dignified, more private.

"It is beyond anything I thought could be achieved and it is such a special place for Calderdale."

The new building has been built within the grounds of the existing hospice, which is more than 30 years old.

That is now due to be turned into an outpatient centre.

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