£510k plan for Compton Hospice expansion is revealed

The proposals would double the size of The Lodge building at the Compton Road West site.

It currently houses the hospice's lymphoedema clinic – for people with long-term limb swelling, as well as bereavement counselling services.

The project was given a cash boost when the hospice was successful in winning grant money from the Department of Health. Chiefs won a share of a £60 million Government cash pot to create extra space and improve facilities in April.

Planned works now include building an extension. The extra space will allow for an eating and relaxing area, a reception and waiting space, a seminar and breakout room and improved toilet facilities.

It will also include a new entrance with improved disabled access.

Corridors and entrances to rooms will be widened and gardens will be improved, while the lymphoedema clinic will be soundproofed. Sue Chance, the hospice's head of fundraising, trading and PR, said: "This would really improve lymphoedema and bereavement services."

One greenhouse will be demolished to make way for the extension but charity chiefs say it is in a state of disrepair. Plans have been submitted to Wolverhampton City Council, and are currently awaiting a decision. Three new disabled parking bays will be marked out next to the new entrance.

Acorns Children's Hospice, in Walsall, and Mary Stevens Hospice in Stourbridge also won funding in April.

Compton Hospice won £119,975 to use on its main site, to improve access, and a further £510,000 to use on its Cedars site.

It made two applications to the fund – one for a coffee shop at Cedars and the other for two new patient transport vehicles, a disabled lift and reception area.

Although the hospice did not get the full amount it was chasing, chief executive Ron Middleton welcomed the funding at the time. Acorns, which cares for hundreds of children across the West Midlands, was granted a total of £453,000 with its Walsall site, in Walstead Road, Delves, getting £153,722.

The news came just weeks after Acorns Children's Hospice had revealed it was aiming to expand over the next five years. It hopes to reach out to 50 per cent more families by 2018 and will also create 150 more jobs.

David Strudley, chief executive of Acorns Children's Hospice, said he was delighted by the announcement.

Mary Stevens Hospice in Stourbridge was told it would receive just over £500,000.