The £5m in-patient hospice being built in Newport will to admit its first patients in late spring Cabinet Secretary for Health, Wellbeing and Sport Vaughan Gething AM has heard.

The Health Secretary was on his first visit to the development in Malpas, Newport, where the 15-bed specialist hospice is being built.

The Welsh Government is investing £3m to expand the in-patient palliative care service for terminally ill patients and their families.

The new in-patient hospice will be run by St David’s Hospice Care (SDHC), working in partnership with Aneurin Bevan University Health Board and Newport City Council.

Mr Gething was given a tour of the close to completion specialist building being built on land behind the existing day hospice at Blackett Avenue, by St David’s Hospice Care Chief Executive Emma Saysell.

Mr Gething was given a tour of the close to completion specialist building being built on land behind the existing day hospice at Blackett Avenue, by St David’s Hospice Care Chief Executive Emma Saysell.

Mr Gethin said: “Thanks to this £3m investment the hospice team will be able to deliver patient and family-led services in a new, state-of-the-art facility.

“The palliative care model developed by the team St David’s Hospice Care team is recognised as an example of first class care. When this new building is complete, they will be able to support more people who need their help at the end of their lives. IT was great to meet the team and see how the work is progressing.”

St David’s Hospice Care cares for more than 3,000 patients and their families every year free of charge. Staff operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year caring for patients with cancer and other life-limiting illnesses such as end-stage heart failure and motor neurone disease.

St David’s Hospice Care serves a population of over 600,000 people from Newport, Caerphilly, Torfaen, Monmouthshire as well as Mid and South Powys.

Emma Saysell, Chief Executive of St. David’s Hospice Care, said: “I was delighted Health Secretary Vaughan Gething was able to see firsthand what we do here in Newport. I was also very pleased to be able to give Vaughan a personal tour of our fantastic new in-patient hospice being created here in Malpas which is the first purpose built independent voluntary sector in-patient hospice constructed in Wales this century.

“We are so grateful to the Welsh Government, Newport City Council, Aneurin Bevan University Health Board and the Big Lottery for recognising and investing in our shared vision here in Newport.

“Our care depends on the ongoing support from our local community and we hope they will continue to support us in the future so we can provide the very best hospice and end of life care”

The new in patient centre, which is linked to the current day hospice by a corridor, will open in late spring this year after being fitted out after a 60 week construction programme. The new in patient unit replaces the existing 10-bedded unit at St Anne’s, Malpas, Newport.

The new building has each room leading onto a terraced area overlooking a garden to be used by patients and visitors. The new facility will also benefit from a social hub, a multi faith room and community café served by a 50 space car park.

St David’s Hospice Care is putting the final touches to an operational plan to ensure the smooth delivery of the service and the success of the new hospice. New volunteering opportunities are being created and the charity says it is looking forward to working closely with the local community and its many supporters.