The stunning new “people’s hospice” for the Highlands is poised to transform end-of-life care in the region after a £7.5million revamp.
Bosses at the expanded and upgraded facility on the banks of the River Ness yesterday issued a “huge thank you” to the army of fundraisers from the north who made the rebuild possible.
As the finishing touches are made to the Inverness inpatient unit, Highland Hospice staff are preparing to transfer patients from their temporary home in Invergordon on November 17.
The move will mark the culmination of years of work and a mammoth fundraising effort.
Yesterday, the doors to the immaculate new facility were opened to the press for the first time since its completion.
The old hospice, which was built 25 years ago, had only four single rooms and two three-bedded rooms, all of which were smaller than current guidelines recommend, while spaces for family and staff were also restricted.
In contrast, the new unit boasts nine single rooms and one three-bed room, as well as a “Sanctuary” room to give patients, family members and staff space to “sit and contemplate”.
All of the single rooms are now large enough for a family member to stay overnight with their loved one if desired, and the facility also provides additional much-needed accommodation for friends and relations to relax during the day and stay overnight if they wish.
The new hospice also provides dedicated bereavement support rooms for face-to-face, group and telephone counselling for the first time.
An enlarged art and craft room offers improved occupational therapy opportunities, and there is a larger suite for physiotherapy.
In addition, there is space and technology provided to support the growth of a “virtual hospice”, allowing greater access to services in more remote and rural Highland communities.
“We set out to have a resource that would truly become The Highland Hospice,” said Norman Macdonald, hospice chairman.
All patient rooms in the new unit have doors opening onto a terrace and, unlike the old unit, some also enjoy panoramic views of the river.
Local artists have also installed Highland-themed artworks throughout the facility, and the walls are adorned with thoughtful quotations.
Highland Hospice chief executive Kenny Steele said: “It makes a huge difference, particularly for patients and families. Our old place was half the size.
“Although our staff always do a fantastic job, as everybody knows, this new building provides a sense of well-being, for patients and families, and staff as well.
“It’s very much everything we hoped it would be. In many respects, it’s even better.”
Morrison Construction began work on the project in June last year, when the previous facility was demolished.
Since then, the hospice’s inpatient unit service has been operating from its temporary base in the Fyrish Ward of Invergordon Community Hospital, with its day hospice relocated to Cradlehall Business Park.
An initial £3million of hospice reserves was put in place to fund the facility, with an additional £4.3million having been raised to date through the charity’s Project Build Appeal, which has been running since 2014.
Mr Steele said: “I’d just like to say a huge thank you to the Highland community and businesses.
“It’s the people’s hospice, they made it happen, so a big thanks for their support.”
Catherine Ross, one of three charge nurses at the facility, said staff were preparing to move the patients from Invergordon on November 17.
“We will move half the beds from Invergordon two days before and move the patients on the day,” she said.
“I think it will be amazing to have a brand new unit to look after patients and their various needs in the palliative phase of their illness.
“Having single rooms is really important to us, and the new unit offers a bright and spacious environment to look after patients and families in.”
Members of the public are invited to an open day at the hospice on Bishops Road between 10am and 4pm on Sunday.
