Western Power Distribution signs up as the first sponsor for a room at new £5m St David’s Hospice Care in patient centre

The leading power distribution business, a solid supporter of St David’s Hospice Care over the years, has put its name to the first of 15 new in patient rooms at the hospice, which is currently under construction.

The new hospice, at Blackett Avenue, Malpas, admits its first patients in late spring this year.

Ahead of this, St David’s Hospice Care is looking to get each of the 15 new rooms signed up with a sponsor.

WPD’s corporate communications manager Paul Bishop was taken on a personal, detailed tour of the new 15-bed specialist hospice facility by St David’s Hospice Care chief executive Emma Saysell.

Paul said: “We are both delighted and proud to be the first to sign up as sponsors of a room in this fabulous new hospice. The care put into the design and the quality of build of the new in patient hospice is simply superb.

"We’d now like to see other businesses show similar support for this fantastic new facility, which will serve people throughout our community, and to sign up to be a room sponsor.”

Paul said he is looking forward to the official opening of the facility when they would be able to visit the WPD room.

In recent years WPD has sponsored a range of events in support of the charity such as the Three Peaks of Wales, the Unicorn bereavement project, Midnight Walks, and Santa runs. For a second year running it is backing the Kolor Dash event on Sunday, May 21 at Tredegar Park.

WPD is the company responsible for electricity distribution in the Wales, the Midlands and the South West serving more than 7.8 million customers and employing in excess of 6,000 members of staff.

Emma Saysell said: “I was delighted to be able to give Paul a guided tour of our wonderful new in patient hospice so he could see firsthand what we are doing here in Newport. This new hospice is the first purpose-built independent voluntary sector in-patient hospice constructed in Wales this century.

“Our care depends on receiving ongoing support from our local community which is why we are so very grateful to businesses such as WPD continuing to give us such tremendous and sustained support.

"We are now hoping that other businesses will follow WPD’s lead and sign up to sponsor a room at the new in patient facility.”

Emma said: “We are so grateful to the Welsh Government which is funding the building to the tune of £3m, Newport City Council, Aneurin Bevan University Health Board and the Big Lottery for recognising and investing in our shared vision here in Newport.

The ultra-modern facility will be run by St David’s Hospice Care, working in partnership with Aneurin Bevan University Health Board and Newport City Council.

St David’s Hospice Care cares for more than 3,000 patients and their families every year free of charge. Staff operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year caring for patients with cancer and other life-limiting illnesses such as end-stage heart failure and motor neurone disease.

St David’s Hospice Care serves a population of over 600,000 people from Newport, Caerphilly, Torfaen, Monmouthshire as well as Mid and South Powys.

The new in patient centre, which is linked to the current day hospice by a corridor, will open in late spring this year after being fitted out after a 60 week construction programme. The new in patient unit replaces the existing 10-bedded unit at St Anne’s, Malpas, Newport.

Each room in the new building leads onto a terraced area overlooking a garden to be used by patients and visitors. The new facility will also benefit from a social hub, a multi faith room and community café served by a 50-pace car park.

St David’s Hospice Care is putting the final touches to an operational plan to ensure the smooth delivery of the service and the success of the new hospice. New volunteering opportunities are being created and the charity says it is looking forward to working closely with the local community and its many supporters.