Coronation Street actress and East Cheshire Hospice patron, Samia Smith cut a special cake and snipped a yellow ribbon to officially open the Hospice's new Daycare and Outpatients centre, the Sunflower Centre on Wednesday, 4th May.
Funded by capital grants from the Department of Health and by legacy and other gifts from kind hearted supporters, the official opening marks the completion of a £4 million building development programme which began in 2008 and has transformed both the Inpatients and the Daycare and Outpatients areas.
The new Sunflower Centre has a suite of high-specification treatment and consultation rooms for physiotherapy and a range of complementary therapies, a bright and cheerful art therapy room, a dedicated dining area and facilities to offer a wide variety of activities for patients. The grounds now also include a tranquil, enclosed garden where patients and visitors can enjoy nature and even grow their own produce.
In addition, the refurbishment of the Sunflower Centre has enhanced the Hospice's capacity to provide a range of therapies on an Outpatients basis.
Samia Smith said, "East Cheshire Hospice is so important to our community. The new Sunflower Centre will enable the brilliant team based there to offer an even better service to patients and their loved ones. Like so many other local people, I have had first-hand experience of the Hospice and I therefore know only too well what a difference it will make."
Roger Payne, Chair of the Council of Trustees at East Cheshire Hospice, said: "The opening of these wonderful new facilities is one of the most significant moments for our Hospice since it began providing care for local people twenty three years ago. With our new building, the Hospice is looking to the future with confidence and we are therefore delighted that Samia could be here to celebrate with us."
The opening was attended by more than 100 Hospice supporters and volunteers all keen to join in the celebrations.
East Cheshire Hospice cares for adults suffering from life-limiting illnesses from which there is no cure. The hospice receives less than 23% of its costs from government and so has to fundraise almost £6,000 every single day of the year simply to maintain the current provision.
Visit the East Cheshire Hospice website for further information.
Photo: left to right, Fiona Morris, Chief Executive at East Cheshire Hospice, Samia Smith and Roger Payne, Chair of Trustees.
