Cancer charity's £20m state-of-art hospice plan
Mar 17 2009 by Alison Dayani, Birmingham Post
A modern £20million hospice for terminally-ill patients across the region could be created, cancer charity Marie Curie has revealed.
The charity hopes to replace its ageing hospice in Warwick Road, Solihull, with a nearby state-of-the-art building to modernise care for the terminally ill.
Marie Curie Cancer Care managers said they were set to apply for planning permission in the coming months and, if the scheme gets the go-ahead, they plan to sell the current site for residential use to fund the project.
Liz Cottier, hospice manager, said: “The hospice supports about 1,000 local people with cancer and other illnesses every year. While the care we provide is excellent, the building’s size and age is restricting our ability to develop services and reach more people.
“Our new hospice will have the most modern of facilities and will offer unrivalled care and support for terminally-ill patients and their families in the area.
“I look forward to meeting with people locally to share our vision for the future.”
Despite the changes, Marie Curie plans to continue services as normal until the proposed hospice opens its doors in 2012.
Public consultations are to take place for residents living near the proposed hospice site off Marsh Lane at the existing Marie Curie Hospice, in Warwick Road, on March 25 between 4pm and 8pm and March 28 between 10am and 2pm.
It will also allow residents and patients the chance to see plans and artist’s impressions of the new hospice and plans for the existing site.
Visitors will be able to discuss the project with Marie Curie Cancer Care staff and the charity’s planning consultants at the meetings.
The Marie Curie Hospice gives desperately ill patients with cancer and other illnesses expert care for free.
But, as a charity which is not wholly funded by the NHS, it is heavily reliant on donations and grants. About 70 per cent of its income comes from the support of thousands of individuals, membership organisations and businesses, with the charity needing to raise £115 million.
It also has two centres for palliative care research – the Marie Curie Palliative Care Unit in London and the Marie Curie Palliative Care Institute in Liverpool – as well as the Marie Curie Research Institute, which investigates the causes and treatments of cancer.
Anyone unable to attend the public meetings can view plans and information on the Marie Curie Cancer Care website from March 25 at: www.mariecurie.org.uk/solihull
