Opening of new £26.5m hospice 'a dream come true'

The opening of a new £26.5m hospice in Greater Manchester has been described as a "momentous day" by staff.

Moya Cole Hospice, formerly known as St Ann's, has opened the new site in Heald Green, Cheadle, replacing a building nearby that had been in use for more than a century.

The hospice chief executive Rachel McMillen said: "The new building is everything our old building has not been able to give us."

She described the new facility was a "dream come true" for the charity, which has been in operation for 55 years.

McMillen said the old site "wasn't purpose-built" and a replacement was needed.

"It had narrow dark corridors, it didn't have enough single rooms, there was not enough outdoor space, so it was really difficult if a patient was in a bed to get that bed outside into the garden."

She added: "I didn't sleep last night, it was like a child waiting for Santa to come on Christmas Day. It's just amazing, I just can't believe that we're here, it's a dream come true."

Two buildings make up the new hospice site, both joined together by a corridor.

The first building houses the main entrance, consists of the outpatient services, rehabilitation facilities, a café, and offices.

The second is home to 27 in-patient beds spread across 23 rooms with a family lounge, a dining area, a number of quiet areas, and an interior courtyard for patients and their loved ones to enjoy.

McMillan said the £26.5m development was paid for in part thanks to the "incredible support" of the community, including donations which raised more than £2m.

But she said the fundraising effort must continue after previously explaining it costs around £20,000 a day to run the site.

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