A vital hospice could be forced to close services if it is not able to raise £2 million in order to build a new centre bosses say.
St Ann's Hospice, which cares for people with life-limiting illnesses, say their current building in Stockport is "no longer fit for purpose."
They have drawn up ambitious plans to build a new purpose-built modern facility on land adjacent to the current site in Heald Green, which would become the leading facility for end of life care in the UK.
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They have already raised the vast majority of the 21.5 million needed for the project. However, there is a shortfall of 2million needed to get it off the ground.
They have now launched a public fundraising appeal where they asking people in Greater Manchester to help them raise the cash so work can begin later this year.
And the hospice's boss says the current building, which is 150 years old and has small rooms, limited natural light and narrow corridors, is so outdated they could have to begin closing services if they aren't able to push on and secure the new facility.
"We’re proud that we provide world-class hospice care from right here in this amazing city, and as the needs of patients change, we need to evolve too to make sure we can continue to give them the truly personalised care that they deserve" Rachel McMillan, the hospice’s chief executive, said.
“We simply can’t continue to care for local people in our current building. It is no longer fit for purpose and we’re in real danger of having to close services in the near future if we don’t complete this project.
“We support people at all stages of their life-limiting illness, and if we weren’t here, those patients simply wouldn’t be able to access local, specialist care. At a time which for many is one of the most vulnerable in their life, that’s unthinkable.”
The new "bright and airy" building will comprise a 27-bed inpatient unit including 21 en-suite bedrooms with access to private outdoor terraces.
It will also feature modern outpatient and day therapy services, dedicated bereavement and family support spaces, offices, a café that will be open to the public, landscaped gardens and improved car parking.
And the hospice says it will "help St Ann’s transform care and quality of life for palliative and end of life care patients across Greater Manchester."
“It was only thanks to the community of Greater Manchester that, fifty one years ago, St Ann’s was able to first open the doors to Manchester’s hospice" Rachel McMillan added.
"Now, as we prepare for the next phase in the history of specialist palliative and end-of-life care in the area, we are appealing to that community again to support the building of their new hospice.
“We know it’s a big ask, but that same community has always been here for us – we never take that for granted, and we’re proud to have such deep roots in the areas we serve across Greater Manchester.
"Every donation, however big or small; every pledge to help us, it all really will make a difference. Not just now, but for future generations of local families too.”
“Building the new hospice is not a ‘nice to have’ option. It’s an absolutely necessity"
One of those firmly backing the hospice's appeal is the actors Lee Boardman and his wife, Jennifer James who met whilst working on Coronation Street.
Lee and his family reached out to St Ann’s for support eight years ago. His sister Mandy died of cancer in January 2014 and his younger sister, Suzy, was dying of secondaries from breast cancer at the same time.
“My family went through an unimaginable time of heartbreak," he said.
“Within weeks of losing Mandy, Suzy degenerated to the point where she just couldn’t live at home on her own. She urgently needed more specialist care and support than we, her family, could provide. I’d grown up in Stockport so thankfully we’d heard of St Ann’s Hospice.
“I was in such a state of high anxiety and emotion but we just rocked up and I begged them to help Suzy. They were amazing and literally, within four hours, St Ann’s had lifted the weight that we’d been carrying for so long off our shoulders."
“We felt - and still feel - forever indebted to St Ann’s" Lee said. "And, although it took a long time to heal from the losses I suffered, I said that I’d literally do anything I could in return for the support they gave my family. When I heard recently that St Ann’s urgently needs to build a new hospice, I had to step in to help.
“We have to save St Ann’s ‑ the bottom line is, without a modern new hospice, the care and support my family received simply might not be available to other local families in the future.”
“I’ve seen the plans for the new hospice and they are outrageously brilliant. The architects have really thought about the needs of patients and families" Lee added.
“Building the new hospice is not a ‘nice to have’ option. It’s an absolutely necessity, so it’s vital that we all rally round now to do our bit and help build a new St Ann’s together.”
The hospice is asking individuals, businesses, and others locally to make a donation, or get in touch to find out more and pledge their support.
To make a donation now, click here. You can also text LETSBUILDIT to 70085 to give £20 or you call 0161 498 3631.
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