ACTRESS Caroline Quentin today launched an appeal to help South Gloucestershire’s only adult hospice fund the multi-million pound redevelopment of its Inpatient Unit.

The rebuild of St Peter’s Hospice Inpatient Unit is going to cost £6.53million and the hospice is appealing to the people of South Gloucestershire and Bristol to help raise the shortfall £1.53million over the next 12 months.

St Peter's Hospice welcomed actress Caroline Quentin, who is famed for her roles on hit television shows Men Behaving Badly and Jonathan Creek.

Caroline cut a ceremonial cake and officially launched the Room to Care Appeal in her role as appeal patron. She was joined by nurses, patients, relatives and St Peter's Hospice CEO Simon Caraffi.

“Each time I visit St Peter’s Hospice I am struck by the passion and commitment of the staff and volunteers,” said Caroline.

“I am also truly inspired by the patients and families they care for.

“The Room to Care Appeal will ensure St Peter’s Hospice will be able to provide local people with the very best palliative care, to the highest professional standards, within an environment of comfort and dignity for the next 20 years.”

The main change will be replacing the current bedrooms, half of which are shared, with 15 individual ensuite rooms, providing patients and their families with the privacy and dignity they deserve during their final days.

Over the next 20 years the redeveloped IPU is expected to support 6,250 patients and around 18,500 relatives and friends.

The 15 larger bedrooms will all have ensuite bathrooms, a sofa-bed, and access to their own garden terrace. This will address the need for a more homely environment, offering enhanced patient privacy and dignity, where visitors can stay overnight and where patients can welcome more visitors at any one time.

“Palliative care has evolved significantly since St Peter’s Hospice first opened,” said hospice CEO Simon Caraffi.

“We are now presented with different challenges in serving more acute clinical needs. The new Inpatient Unit needs to respond to these challenges to make the stay more comfortable for patients, families and friends.”

All care is provided free of charge, costing the hospice around £20,000 a day.

The complete redesign and rebuild of the IPU will include a significant ground floor extension, plus expansion of the first floor, at a total cost of £6.53million.

The generosity of St Peter’s Hospice supporters, alongside very careful planning, has already secured £4 million, with a further £1 million pledged from individuals, companies and institutions in and around Bristol. This leaves the hospice urgently needing to raise £1.53 million to complete the new Inpatient Unit.

To make a donation to the Room to Care Appeal and help build a 21st Century Hospice for Bristol, visit roomtocare.co.uk, call: 01275 391400 or go to one of the St Peter’s Hospice charity shops.

To watch the appeal video visit: www.youtube.com/watch?v=swzob9w-ims&t=