Princess Royal opens new outreach centre in Trowbridge

The Princess Royal has opened a new centre to support people with terminal illnesses in Wiltshire.

The Dorothy House outreach facility in Trowbridge was launched in August and provides a drop-in service for carers and their families as well as patients.

It is the first of two centres planned this year, with another due to open in Somerset at the end of 2012.

Wayne De Leeuw, the centre manager, said it was hoped the centre would "provide more care to more people."

The new facility, sited in Bryer Ash Business Park in the town, offers one-to-one and group rooms, a studio for creative work, treatment rooms, meeting space and a cafe.

The new centre offers one-to-one and group rooms, a creative studio, treatment rooms and a cafe

"We wanted to keep it as open plan, as bright and fresh as possible with lots of bright colours," said Mr De Leeuw.

"And we deliberately decided we wanted a kitchen table as a setting so people could come in and sit around the table and share their stories.

"What we want is anybody who has been affected by a life-threatening illness - and it's not just cancer patients - to come in through the doors and feel that the problem that they've brought they'll get some answer to."

'Most exciting developments'

Alison Stevens, director of nursing, said the new centres were "probably among the most exciting developments for Dorothy House since it moved to its base in Winsley in 1995".

"Our aim has always been to provide community-based care, making our services as accessible as possible," she said.

"These centres, located in the heart of the communities where we work, will make it easier for our patients, their families and carers to access our support."

The new Dorothy House centre in Trowbridge is now open to the public for tours and for those interested in finding out more.