Nottinghamshire Hospice reopens after rebuilding

The day-care centre at the Nottinghamshire Hospice is reopening after a £900,000 refit.

New facilities at the Woodborough Road site include private treatment and physiotherapy rooms and two specialist bathrooms.

Managers said they had also almost doubled the size of the dining room while trying to keep a welcoming and homely atmosphere.

The work was funded by the Department of Health and private donations.

'Dignity and care'

Hospice chief executive Beverley Brooks said privacy and independence had been at the heart of their thinking.

"It has made a phenomenal difference. What I am looking forward to is the patients coming back.

"They call this home and they can't wait to come home and if we can create that environment for them, that is fantastic."

She added: "We are about dignity and care because while people are alive we want to maximise every day with them, irrespective of what their illness is."

The centre has about 90 staff providing counselling, meals and a variety of activities.

It costs £2.5m a year to run with 30% coming from NHS Nottinghamshire but the remaining £1.8m is raised from donations, fundraising activities and charity shops.