St Peter’s Hospice has officially unveiled its refurbished first-floor offices at the Brentry site, with MP Darren Jones attending to formally open the improved space.
The new look has been made possible through government funding as part of a national programme supporting hospice infrastructure improvements across England.
St Peter’s received £750,000 last summer and used part of the grant to modernise workspaces for its clinical teams, improve confidentiality and create a more effective and comfortable environment for staff and patients.
The revamp includes improved private spaces for confidential conversations, upgraded meeting and collaboration areas, enhanced lighting and heating, sound-proofing for the Hospice’s 24-hour advice line and wider energy efficiency improvements aligned with the charity’s net zero ambitions.
Opening the refurbished offices, Darren Jones praised the impact the investment will have on hospice staff and patient care. He said: “It has been wonderful to tour the hospice today and see how this government funding has been put to good use to create the workspaces needed for the team to deliver the best patient care. Because when we announce pots of funding, these aren’t just numbers on a press release – this is real money that will make a real difference to people’s lives.”
Susan Hamilton, CEO of St Peter’s said: “We’re delighted to officially open these newly refurbished spaces and grateful for the government funding that has made this possible. The improvements will make a real difference to the way our teams work together and support patients and families through some of the most difficult moments in their lives.
“The office space hadn’t been significantly upgraded in more than 20 years, despite the Hospice and our services growing considerably during that time. These improvements give our staff the facilities they need to work effectively, collaborate better and hold sensitive conversations in appropriate private spaces.
“While capital funding like this is hugely valuable, our biggest need continues to be sustainable funding for our day-to-day care services. We still rely heavily on donations to ensure we can continue delivering compassionate end-of-life care across Bristol, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset.”
The refurbishment project was carried out by Koddis Construction, with support from specialist project management firm Provelio, alongside architects and acoustic consultants who worked closely with hospice teams throughout the design process.
Mike Catley, director at Koddis Construction, said: “We’re proud to have worked with St Peter’s Hospice on this important refurbishment project. The result is a modern, practical workspace that supports staff wellbeing and day-to-day operations. We’re particularly pleased that we were able to ensure the Hospice could continue running throughout the works.”
St Peter’s Hospice is in line for a further capital funding grant to support a second phase of improvements, including roof repairs, upgraded equipment and improvements to IT infrastructure.
Susan continued: “The pressures facing hospices continue to grow. Demand is rising year on year, as are the costs of delivering high-quality, compassionate end-of-life care. Capital funding is an important step, but it must sit alongside a long-term, sustainable approach to hospice funding.”