New hospice opens in Louth

LOUTH'S brand new day hospice will be open to the public for the first time today.

After ten years of fundraising for a purpose-built hospice for Louth, the doors will be open today to the general public with the first service users making use of facilities from next week.

The day hospice has been built off Grimsby Road on land donated by retired farmer Frank Nicholson.

Building work started last May when Councillor Stan Avison cut the first turf.

The hospice has been built by Bob Higgins, of Higgins Builders, Fulstow, and designed by Guy Kemp, of Lincs Design Consultancy.

The Louth day hospice is being run in partnership with Lincolnshire's St Barnabas Hospice who will be providing services.

Fundraising is to continue to help the day hospice achieve the position where it can expand to provide a residential unit, which was always the original aim of the trustees of Louth And District Hospice.

Trustee Doreen Stephenson said: "This is a proud moment for Louth and district. It is a wonderful achievement for everybody who has supported us over the years in many different ways. Everybody should be proud of what we have achieved together.

"I hope as many of those people as possible will join us here on Friday to see the facilities for themselves, take the opportunity to look around and speak to the clinical staff from St Barnabas Hospice.

"Louth And District Hospice will continue to be an independent charity and to fundraise for new services for Louth and district.

"We hope to develop even more services for palliative care as well as for future expansion of this hospice which will take a number of years."

Louth And District Hospice continues to provide a home support service which is available to all palliative care patients and their families.

The new day hospice includes treatment and quiet rooms, a kitchen, day centre lounge and four themed gardens overlooking scenic countryside.

Upstairs are meeting and office space, which can be used by partners of the building.

Fundraising efforts coming up include staff from DS Smith taking part in a charity bike ride from the Royal Oak at Little Cawthorpe on September 8, a charity ball at the Brackenborough Arms on November 9 and Jenny Grasham of 68 Watts Lane is opening her garden every Sunday throughout August with a share going towards Louth And District Hospice.

The open day is today from 10am to 3pm. Look out for coverage in your Grimsby Telegraph.