Marie Curie unveils £1.7m hospice refurbishment

Marie Curie Cancer Care has officially re-opened the doors of its hospice in Penarth today (Monday, 5 November), following a £1.7m refurbishment programme to improve and modernise patient and family facilities. The completion of the project was formally marked with a visit from Minister for Health and Social Services, Lesley Griffiths AM.

The extensive refurbishment will allow the hospice to best meet the needs of patients and their families. The improvements have created additional single occupancy rooms as well as new en-suite facilities for all the hospice’s multi-bed wards. Friends and family areas such as the hospice’s visitors’ room have been refurbished to provide visitors with much needed space and privacy to talk to clinical staff or spend time with loved ones. In addition, the existing reception area has been transformed into a modern and welcoming open-plan space.

As part of the improvements, the hospice, formerly known as Marie Curie Hospice, Penarth has been re-named Marie Curie Hospice, Cardiff and the Vale to better reflect the area the hospice serves. Supporting around 1,200 patients a year, the hospice welcomes patients from Cardiff, the Vale, Newport and Caerphilly as well as Penarth.

Karen Stephens, Hospice Manager for Marie Curie Hospice, Cardiff and the Vale, said: "We are hugely pleased to welcome our patients back to the hospice’s new and improved facilities.

"Built 25 years ago, the hospice was in real need of modernisation. These improvements will directly benefit the needs of our patients and provide more space for families to spend time together.

"We passionately believe that terminally ill people should be able to access the care and support they need at the end of their life in an environment which ensures privacy, dignity and comfort. The Marie Curie Hospice, Cardiff and the Vale makes this possible for hundreds of patients and families each year.

"In taking this opportunity to re-name the hospice we hope that people will better understand the communities we serve. We welcome referrals via GPs, district nurses or discharge nurses."

Michael Davies, 28, a police officer from St Mellons, is a patient at the Marie Curie Hospice, Cardiff and the Vale. Talking about his care, he said: "Marie Curie Cancer Care has been a fantastic support to not only me but also to my family and friends.

"The environment here is very different to a hospital. The staff are such a great support and the high ratio of staff to patients means that the nurses are able respond quickly and efficiently to our needs. The complementary therapies offered here have really helped me manage my pain and think about my illness differently, and the cooked breakfast each morning always gives me a reason to get up.

"The sea views from my room are fantastic - I feel like I have the best room in the house. To be able to have my own en-suite bathroom allows me the privacy that I would not be able to get elsewhere."

Lesley Griffiths AM met with patients and staff today as she officially opened the refurbished hospice. She said: "I am delighted to officially re-open the hospice, which provides such important specialist care. It is a very special facility, which I know will support a great many people. I recently launched a consultation on delivering excellent end of life care, and I hope to hear from clinicians, managers, patients and families as part of the consultation process."

The Marie Curie Hospice, Cardiff and the Vale provides expert care and the best possible quality of life for people with terminal cancer and other illnesses, offering a full range of services to patients and their families. People can stay at the hospice or visit regularly for pain relief, physiotherapy, complementary therapies, bereavement support and more. Marie Curie also provides community based services to help people return to their homes and be looked after there.

For more information visit www.mariecurie.org.uk/cardiff or call 0800 716 146.

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