‘WE ARE so close – please help us with our final Big Push to raise £400,000 and get Winchester Hospice open’.

That was the message from Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (HHFT) chief executive Alex Whitfield to Winchester Hospice supporters after she took her first tour of Burrell House since work restarted following the COVID-19 lockdown.

Alex and Winchester Hospice trustee Liz Padmore were delighted to see the progress that is being made on the construction of the 10-bed hospice. Burrell House, a former nurses’ home on the Royal Hampshire County Hospital site in Romsey Road, is being transformed into a modern hospice that will help and support local people and their families.

Alex and Liz thanked generous supporters who have so far donated £3.3million, and said they hoped local people will get behind The Big Push to raise the final £400,000 that will get the hospice open next summer.

Following her tour, Alex said: “Burrell House is such a beautiful and historic building and it is amazing to see what the team are doing as they turn it into a modern, light and airy place for patients.”

Liz added: “I am so thrilled to see what the team are doing. This is going to provide the most wonderful space for people at one of the most difficult times of their lives.

“It is going to be absolutely wonderful. Thank you to everyone who has supported us so far. Every pound counts and we are so grateful to everyone who donates and helps us to get the hospice open.”

The national lockdown caused by the pandemic meant work had to be halted on transforming Burrell House in March. However, workers from Reside Construction have been back on site since the end of May and have been pressing ahead with the construction.

Winchester Hospice will be run by HHFT. Its palliative care team have been a driving force behind the ambitious project as they know how important it is to have a local hospice facility that will help, support and care for the people of Winchester and the surrounding area.

Winchester Hospice will be the hub for specialist palliative care, providing inpatient care for up to 10 patients, as well as a host of outpatient and community support for people in their own homes.

For more information, and to donate, visit www.winchesterhospice.com or call the Winchester Hospice fundraising team on 01962 828353.

PHOTO: Alex Whitfield, chief executive of Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, right, and Liz Padmore, Winchester Hospice trustee, pictured on their tour of Burrell House. And you can watch a short video of Alex and Liz talking about their tour by clicking here.