The Begining
Like all Hospices, the building constructed over 10 years ago is becoming too small for all the services that the Hospice now delivers. In March 2007, we were delighted to have been awarded a £604,000 grant by the Department of Health under the 'Dignity in care for older people - capital grants programme for hospices.' This grant has enabled us to plan a £1million pound expansion and refurbishment programme.
Design Team appointed
After several interviews the Trustees appointed the specialist Hospice Architects Kirk, Kavanagh, Eguiguren to design a plan which received St Helens Council Planning approval in November 2007.
Phil Kavanagh the lead Architect is working closely with Simon Robinson from Structural Engineers AC Robinson, Graham Bagshaw, Mechanical and Electrical Engineer, Karen Bennett CDM Coordinator and Andrew Pollard from Quantity Surveyors Henry Riley and Co.
Builders Appointed
After an extensive tendering process, local builders Thomas Winstanley and Sons Limited from Rainford were chosen as Main Contractors for the building work. The work includes building a dedicated Outpatient Suite at the rear of the hospice with it's own separate entrance. The phased refurbishment of the existing building, which includes the installation of a lift and air conditioning in each of the bedrooms, has been planned in four separate phases to allow the Hospice to continue to deliver our much needed service whilst the work is being done.
Ex BBC News Reader Martyn Lewis turns the first sod
Martyn Lewis officially launched the original Hospice appeal when he hosted a formal dinner at the Huyton Suites back in 1995 and it was right and fitting to invite him back again on the 26th June 2008 to turn the first sod on this exciting new chapter for the Hospice. Lady Pilkington, Chairman of the Trustees along with fellow Trustees, Staff and offcials from Winstanleys warmly welcomed Martyn to 'Turn the first sod'. Despite the wine flowing freely at the original launch, it was even wetter at this official ceremony as it poured down all day. Lets hope the rain is not a sign for the rest of the summer.
Work begins on the 29th June 2008
Staff were excited to see the start of the building work as planned. The contract is scheduled to be finished by March 2009.
Phase one gets under way
Phase one of the building work involves converting the 'old garden room' into two separate rooms now affectionately known as the 'round' and the 'square' rooms. The original design of the garden room was open plan and this refurbishment work will make this space more private by taking the wall all the way up to the ceiling. The design incoporates three glass panels which we intend to replace with three stunning pieces of glass art when funds allow to help to inspire and comfort visitors when they visit loved ones in the in-patient unit.
Phase one complete
Sympathetic to the original design, Phase one was officially handed back to the Hospice on the 7th August 2008. This has allowed our Day Therapy team to move into the 'Square room' to be closer to the clinical services that they deliver. The 'round' room has temporarily been commissioned as an out patients room whilst phase two gets under way.
