A wintry Louise Hamilton Centre

Finally the snow came to Gorleston on Friday, January 18. The Louise Hamilton Centre got its first ever taste of the white stuff.

Completed on time and on budget

Construction work on a charitably funded £1.5 million palliative and supportive care centre in Norfolk has completed on time and on budget.

The new palliative information and supportive care centre at the James Paget University Hospital was handed over by main contractor ISG and LSI Architects on Thursday 13 December. Construction work on the Louise Hamilton Centre started back in March 2012.

The Palliative Care East appeal was launched back in 2006 with the aim of providing Great Yarmouth and Waveney with a support centre that will help people with incurable illnesses such as cancer, respiratory, neurological, and cardiac diseases.

The centre will open in January and will see a phased opening of services designed to support the needs of carers and patients with life-limiting illnesses. A range of organisations working in partnership will provide services: from the NHS, to local charities, patient support groups, and bereavement groups.

The centre will be about living life. Many people need help to live as full a life as possible when they have an incurable condition. The Louise Hamilton Centre will provide them with access to support and advice and will also signpost them to appropriate community services. 

Chairman of the James Paget University Hospital, David Wright, said: “The centre is absolutely stunning and the architects and builders have done a fantastic job. The centre will make such a difference, not only to patients with incurable diseases but also to carers, friends and families”.

LSI Architects Associate partner Peter Durrant said: “We are delighted the people of Yarmouth and Waveney will finally get the facility they so desperately deserve. We hope the centre’s design will help inspire both staff and visitors. It has been a privilege for us to help realise this dream for the Palliative Care East appeal.”

ISG’s Ian Gifford – managing director – East, said: “The community involvement in this special project has proved absolutely vital in translating the vision for a centre of excellence for palliative and supportive care in Norfolk into a reality. Handing over this building marks the culmination of an inspiring fund raising effort leading to the creation of an outstanding regional care resource, which will benefit both patients and their families.”

Happy New Year to you all!  2013 has arrived and the work cracks on with getting ready for opening. It's January 3 and the centre's looking great.

The centre is being furnished and staff and volunteers are getting familiarised with the Louise Hamilton Centre before we open the doors by the end of this month.

PS You can also like us on our Facebook page www.facebook.com/louisehamiltoncentre

See our story unfold on Pinterest

The keys to the centre have been handed over. What a journey it's been. You can see our story unfold on our Pinterest board.

• Pinterest - Louise Hamilton Centre

The centre has been handed over...

The Louise Hamilton Centre was officially handed over by the architects LSI, and the ISG construction team, on December 13.

And what a job they've all done. The centre looks fantastic, just stunning. A warm, welcoming place for healing and hope.  

Over the next few weeks the centre will be kitted out with furniture and IT equipment and in January we'll be getting staff and volunteers familiarised with the centre.

We'll be rolling out the services from January on a phased basis to give everyone time to get to know the centre and get settled in.

The winter sun really lights up the courtyard garden of the Louise Hamilton Centre in this panoramic picture below

 

Building work nears its end

December 10, 2012 and the building work will soon be finished. Remember when it was all just drawings and plans? Well, architects LSI and builders ISG have turned all that into the real thing.

We'll be on track to open in January, get the staff and volunteer training done, and start rolling out the services to support carers, patients and all those affected by end-of-life illnesses in Great Yarmouth and Waveney.

Shine a Light for loved ones

’Shine a Light’ is one of the Palliative Care East appeal’s first annual events to give on-going charitable support to the Louise Hamilton Centre. 

As we approach the end of another year, it is time for many of us to celebrate the joy of Christmas, but for all of us to reflect on the passing year, and our thoughts of loved ones is especially close to our hearts.

December also marks the completion of building work on the centre at the James Paget University Hospital. The Louise Hamilton Centre will be a legacy to be carried forward for many years to come.  So many local people have contributed to this, a celebration in its own right – so help us celebrate with a light. 

If you would like to remember someone special to you or if you just wish to show your support, please use the form opposite to tell us the name of the person whose life you are commemorating and your dedication. This is listed on the  ‘Shine a Light’ page in the menu to the right. 

Dedications are offered freely by the centre as a thank you to our whole community, however we would ask you to consider making a voluntary donation to continue the funding of the centre - all donations are very gratefully received.