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St Leonard's Hospice, in Tadcaster Road, York

RELATIVES of in-patients at York's hospice will be able to enjoy more privacy during their visits following improvements to the building.

St Leonard's Hospice, in Tadcaster Road, York, has lodged a planning application with City of York Council to extend and update its reception in a move which will reduce the amount of noise reaching in-patients.

The Department of Health has provided £250,000 funding for the work, which hospice supporters have hailed as "a very positive step".

The cash, topped up with the hospice's own funds, will be used to improve the security of the entrance area as well as allowing more privacy for relatives visiting patients. It will also expand the area of the hospice's on-site shop.

David Winpenny, spokesman for the hospice, said: "The extension of the hospice has been open for about seven years. We thought the time has come to make a few alterations to make it even better.

"We are extending the reception area to make access for everyone - patients, staff and visitors - a slightly better experience and to give more privacy to some areas of the hospice than in the past."

The hospice has 20 in-patient beds behind the open reception area.

The extension would be to the front of the building and would create a larger area in which to welcome people, along with seating. There would also be a new entrance to the in-patient area.

Mr Winpenny said: "It is hoped work on the entrance area will start in summer and will be completed within the year. The hospice staff are very much looking forward to it. It is a very positive step."

He said plans were in place to ensure the disruption to patients was minimal.

The funding from the Depart-ment of Health is part of a £40 million package being shared between 146 hospices.

As previously reported, staff at the hospice have stressed there will be no reduction in services while building work takes place and disruption will be minimal.

St Leonard's Hospice is a registered charity caring for people with life-threatening illnesses, offering daycare for people living in their own homes as well as in-patient palliative care in a purpose-built unit.

It relies almost entirely on donations, legacies and fundraising to meet its £2.6 million annual running costs.

6:22pm Friday 9th May 2008

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