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Winchester Hospice, providing local specialist palliative and end of life care for adults in Winchester, has opened its doors this month.

To celebrate this milestone, the hospice in partnership with Winchester Cathedral is inviting members of the public to attend a special evening of celebration and thanks.

The event will be held at Winchester Cathedral on Monday 4 October from 5pm, as part of the Evensong service, giving thanks to everyone who has helped to make the opening of Winchester Hospice a reality through their extraordinary support.

The event is free and open to the public, and will provide an opportunity for attendees to hear more about the future for specialist hospice care for Winchester and surrounding villages, as well as how to continue to support the hospice in providing outstanding patient care now, and into the future.

To book your place, visit https://winchesterhospice.com/

Nick Vaughan, Chairman of the Winchester Hospice appeal, said: “I am so pleased to be able to invite members of the local community to join us, in an evening of celebration and thanks. The opening of Winchester Hospice has been a huge milestone that will enable the fantastic staff at Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust to continue to provide outstanding patient care to those who need it most, and in so doing make a very real difference to the people of Winchester and their families.”

“I would like to say a huge thank you to each and every one of our supporters; we simply couldn’t have done it without your tremendous efforts and I look forward to continuing this journey with you.”

Dr Lara Alloway, consultant in palliative medicine and chief medical officer at the Foundation Trust, which runs the hospital in Winchester alongside the two hospitals in Basingstoke and Andover, added: “Winchester Hospice will play an invaluable role within the community”.

“We know how important local hospice care is for those people with life-limiting conditions, as well as for their friends and family. I am delighted we can now provide this care and support close to their homes.

“I look forward to celebrating the opening with you all and give my special thanks to everyone who has donated and supported the charity to make the opening of Winchester Hospice a reality.”

Canon Roland Riem, Vice-Dean at Winchester Cathedral said,“We are delighted to support the opening of the new Winchester Hospice at Monday’s special service. Offering spiritual and pastoral care is an integral part of the ministry at Winchester Cathedral, and so we are glad to support this wonderful new expression of compassion and hope at the heart of our city, giving thanks for the dedication of all who have worked tirelessly to achieve it. All are welcome to join us for an evening of celebration and to give thanks for what has been done to make a real and lasting difference to many local people and their loved ones.”

The hospice, which is on the grounds of the Royal Hampshire Country Hospital, in Winchester, has received more than £4.4 million through charitable donations that were used to renovate the historic Burrell House.

Winchester Hospice will be home to the palliative care team and will provide inpatient care, a hub for specialist outpatient services and therapies, and at-home patient care within the community.