AN AMBITIOUS appeal to raise more than £2 million to build a new hospice for Blaenau Gwent is being launched this week.

The Hospice of the Valleys has launched its 'Precious Moments Appeal' to raise the cash to build a modern, state-of-the-art hospice on the former steelworks site in Ebbw Vale. The planning and construction of the new hospice, planned to open in 2010, is being managed by consultants from the University of Glamorgan and would be  located next to the new Ysbyty Aneurin Bevan hospital, which is already under construction on the site.

The building would not only house the hospice's 20-plus staff, who are currently struggling to cope in cramped and old-fashioned accommodation in Morgan Street, Tredegar, but also provide clinic facilities that are easily accessible to patients from around the borough.

Four weekly clinics are presently held in venues around Blaenau Gwent - such as rugby clubs and social clubs - and these would also be transferred to the new modern hospice premises. 

The hospice's chief executive Andrew Richards said the new hospice centre had become essential for both patients and staff.

"The hospice has grown massively in the last few years, in terms of the numbers of patients that we are treating,' he said. 'Individual clinic rooms are essential for dignity and confidentiality when patients meet with staff and therapists. Our children's bereavement service must also be provided for and a dedicated playroom must be part of the accommodation."

The new two-storey building, which will be as carbon neutral as possible, will have spacious offices, training facilities and meeting rooms that would be well-equipped and resourced, as well as clinic rooms and extensive grounds.

Mr Richards added, "The Local Health Board commissions the hospice as its community specialist palliative care provider and it is appropriate that we are able to link into the new hospital. It is, therefore, a sensible consideration to locate the building as close to the hospital as possible."

Miss Sue Kent, chairman of the trustees, said, "By launching this capital appeal we are setting our sights quite high. The building will cost in excess of £2m and we will need a strong campaign to raise this in the current economic climate. However, our board of trustees is not feint hearted and is determined that the project will succeed for the sake of our patients and staff."

She added an appeal to the people of Blaenau Gwent was not appropriate.

"While we welcome any contribution from the community, we rely so heavily of the strong support already given by the local people - more than £250,000 annually - to keep us running each day that we don't want to divert this marvellous effort towards the project."

The hospice will aim to appeal to charitable trusts, corporate sponsors, statutory funders and European funding streams, overseas supporters and the National Lottery.

Following the launch, the hospice will finalise its plans and costs for the project and start the appeal process.

Professor Demetrios Djialli, who is leading the project at the University of Glamorgan, added, "We are privileged to be working on such and important and much needed facility. Our team is committed to delivering a building and an environment that is not only state-of-the-art, but one which will be valued and enjoyed by all who use it."

The Hospice of the Valleys provides hospice-at-home care to more than 500 patients who are suffering from cancer in Blaenau Gwent every year. The care is high quality, specialist and completely free and is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The hospice has seven nurses and three social workers and a part-time doctor who provide this care. The service currently costs £18,000 each week to run.

Blaenau Gwent AM Trish Law is supporting the Hospice of the Valleys' Precious Moments Appeal. She said, "It is something we hope will never happen, but one in three of us in our lifetimes will develop some sort of life-threatening cancer. It happened to my husband Peter and my sister Carolyn. Hospice of the Valleys, with its excellent team, provided care and support to my husband, sister, family and me in the most desperate of times. Their enduring wish, to stay in their homes and to die with dignity, was granted.

"The Hospice now desperately needs new premises to provide the best facilities for its patients and staff. The Hospice of the Valleys calls on us once again to express our generosity and goodwill, in order that it can build a much needed hospice centre in Blaenau Gwent. I pledge my support for this fund and ask you to join me in putting your hand in your pocket, for all our sakes."

Rt Hon Lord Kinnock, who is a patron of the hospice, added, "The construction of a new purpose-built hospice centre now brings the prospect of even higher and wider standards of free care. But, as ever, the full success of the Hospice of the Valleys can only be achieved with the backing of the communities which it serves.

"It is essential, therefore, that everyone make the maximum effort to help raise the £2 million cost of creating the new hospice centre. I'm certain the call for funds will attract a strong and generous response from the people of the valleys who rightly regard the hospice to be a blessing to every town and village."

Full messages of support and further details of the appeal can be seen on the hospice's website at http://www.hospiceofthevalleys.com">www.hospiceofthevalleys.com