OAKHAVEN HOSPICE PRESS RELEASE

April 2007

CAPITAL FUNDING

Oakhaven Hospice has made a successful bid for £250.000 to the Department of Health for capital funding for the development of its Pennington Chase Day Service. Health Ministers Rosie Winterton & Ivan Lewis rewarded 146 local hospices on Easter Monday with a share of £40M of funding for capital projects as part of its DIGNITY in CARE for OLDER PEOPLE PROGRAMME which was aimed at hospices in England caring for people with terminal illness and facing the end of life.

Early in 2006 Oakhaven's founder Phoebe Coates passed away. Her final legacy to the Hospice was the west side of her magnificent house, Pennington Chase. Now Oakhaven plans to put this half of the building to good use by incorporating it into the existing Day Hospice which has been operating downstairs in the east wing since 2001.

" This is wonderful news and an exciting time for Oakhaven " said Head of Fundraising Mike Denny. " The development of Pennington Chase is going to provide some superb new facilities and greatly enhance the range of services already provided ". The funding will enable the Lymington based Hospice to develop :

  • A multi-functional Activity Room for a range of alternative therapies and activities such as music & art.
  • A Complimentary Therapy Treatment Room that would be an area of tranquillity for patients to receive therapies such as Aromatherapy, Reflexology and therapeutic massage
  • An out-patient suite for treatment of community based patients
  • A south facing Conservatory which will be an extention of our existing Day Hospice lounge
  • A multi-faith Chapel/Quiet Room plus Counselling Office for our Chaplain

" We are delighted to have been allocated this grant from the DoH commented Chief Executive Andrew Ryde. " The fact that we have been allocated the full funding applied for reflects both the quality of the application and how the project meets the criteria as specified by the Department of Health. We anticipate that Architects will be appointed shortly who will then start the planning process for development of these essential services. These facilities will significantly enhance the environment in which we are able to provide care for our patients. Combined with the development plans, recently announced, for a Hospice at Home service this will ensure Oakhaven is able to provide enhanced services both as part of our community care and also as part of our day service".

Care Services Minister Ivan Lewis said " This Government is committed to improving the end of life care services that very ill people receive. This extra funding for hospices will allow them to make real physical improvements to their buildings and will provide benefits to all patients using adult hospice facilities irrespective of their age ". END

Notes for Editors:

Oakhaven Hospice supports not only at the Hospice but also out in the community. Our services are always free of charge. We support over 120 patients weekly and our Community Team make 2,500 home visits and telephone contacts each year. Our Bereavement team makes in excess of 1,600 contacts with the community every year while the Day Hospice has more than 1,200 attendances by patients annually.

Press & PR enquiries about this event and Oakhaven Hospice to Jayne Ashley. Telephone 01590-688697

Jayne@oakhavenhospice.co.uk

 

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