A CALL to arms has been made for a final push to complete the £3.7m scheme for the city’s only hospice.

Winchester Hospice is urging members of the public to help raise a further £400,000 to finish the Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (HHFT) project.

The Romsey Road build was approved in February 2019, with the ambition to create a much-needed 10-bed hospice and palliative care hub, providing specialist care for patients.

Burrell House, a former nurses’ home on the Royal Hampshire County Hospital site, is being transformed to help and support local people and their families.

In its history nurses lived on the top floor of Burrell House throughout the First World War, and the preliminary training school was located on the ground floor. Since then, Burrell House has been used as accommodation for many healthcare professionals over the years.

Its former owner Augusta Burrell was a generous benefactor, whose donations in the early 1900s meant a great deal of work could be done, including an extension of the operating theatre.

So far supporters have donated £3.3million, but it is hoped local people will get behind The Big Push to raise the final £400,000 that will get the hospice open next summer.

HHFT chief executive Alex Whitfield said: “We are so close – please help us with our final Big Push to raise £400,000 and get Winchester Hospice open.

“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.”

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.

Ms Whitfield and trustee Liz Padmore were recently given a tour of the build and were delighted to see the progress being made.

Ms Padmore said: “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 facility 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.

Winchester Hospice will be run by HHFT and 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.

For more information, and to donate, visit www.winchesterhospice.com or call 01962 828353.