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New £2.5m extension provides huge boost to St Asaph hospice

St Kentigern Hospice has been given the go-ahead for a £2.5 million extension that will significantly extend its day therapy, inpatient facilities, and enhance its community provision.

The St Asaph-based hospice has appointed Bodelwyddan construction company Wynne Construction, with work on the 12-month scheme set to begin in October.

The development involves an enlargement and improvement of the hospice’s day therapy and inpatient facilities, which will increase the bed provision from 8 to 12, meaning it can cater for a 50 per cent increase in the number of people it supports.

The 930 sq m extension will also include a café, offering a relaxing area for patients and visitors, as well as being open to the public, including for community groups to meet. It will also provide the charity with a sustainable income to assist with funding.

St Kentigern Hospice will also be seeking new members of care staff as part of the project, as well as additional volunteers to support it with its activity.

The charity’s chief executive Iain Mitchell said: “Like any progressive organisation, St Kentigern Hospice needs to remain responsive to the changing needs of the community that it was established to serve, and we need to ensure our facilities always match the changing needs and expectations of our patients.

“Under the plans, we will create more space and bespoke facilities for our day therapy, family support services, and inpatients unit. We are adapting to the needs of our community and we look forward to having the facilities available for more to access our high-quality provision of care.”

The hospice, the only one in St Asaph, looks after patients from Colwyn Bay to Flint, and as far south as Corwen.

New facilities include accommodation for physios and an educational area. There will also be investment in new IT infrastructure.

Newly-appointed chairman of the hospice Jim O’Toole said: “St Kentigern is at the heart of the North Wales community, and has provided vital help to thousands of people over the years.

“Our plans to ensure we are ready for the future of hospice care have been bolstered after planning permission was granted. It is an important step in making our strategic care ambition a reality.”

Chris Wynne, managing director of Wynne Construction, which built the original hospice buildings in 2000 and completed an extension in 2008, said: “We are delighted to be working with St Kentigern Hospice once again, and look forward to continuing to play a role in helping them extend this important care provision to people in the local community.

“As always, we aim to use local employment through our supply chain and it’s a project that many will feel proud to work on.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Sam Harris .