Hospice Development

Norfolk and the Fens is one of the last remaining areas of England that does not have a full hospice service, and with a population in excess of 300,000, it is the largest.

The need for a full hospice service

West Norfolk only has four palliative care beds, and these are situated in the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, King’s Lynn. With a constant backlog, the current services are not sufficient to meet the demand.

It is estimated that 80-100 palliative care beds are needed per 1,000,000 inhabitants, therefore it is estimated that 30 in-patient beds would be needed for the population of West Norfolk and the Fens. (Source – European Association for Palliative Care, 2010)

Current Hospice Site

The current site of the Norfolk Hospice Tapping House in Snettisham is already overdeveloped and has problems with power supply and sewage disposal. It lacks the potential for the further development that is needed to meet the needs of the area.

Move to a central location

The move from Snettisham to a new site near the A148 at Hillington will provide the Hospice with a more central location within its service area, making it more easily accessible to patients, carers, and volunteer supporters.

Progress so far

A site at Hillington has been made available to the hospice, planning permission has been obtained, and the substructure work on the site has now been completed.

70% of the capital funding needed for the new hospice project is already in place.

The Hospice Development appeal has been launched to raise the remaining balance needed to reach the £3.25 million target.

A commissioning process is in progress between the Hospice and the NHS Norfolk Commissioners.

New revenue generating initiatives are already in place to ensure that the ongoing costs of the new Hospice can be met.