About the Appeal

Why a Hospice in Coventry?

Coventry Myton Hospice Artist's impressionIt has long since been acknowledged that there is a shortage of specialist care beds in the West Midlands and recommendations by the National Council for Hospice and Specialist Palliative Care (NCHSPC) say 40-50 would be an ideal number for a population the size of Coventry and Warwickshire. Myton Hospice in Warwick currently provides the only in-patient facilities for the whole of Coventry and Warwickshire with a total of 24 beds.

In addition to a shortage of beds it is also acknowledged that travelling long distances to visits relatives can be an added pressure at an already difficult time.

“There were a lot of mums friends who would have like to have visited her but just couldn’t get down to see her.  If there had been a hospice in Coventry which mum could have gone to, then it would have been much simpler”

All care offered by Myton Hospices is free of charge to the patient and paid for largely by voluntary funds.

In recognition of this need a new in-patient facility and day unit is planned for Coventry of the site of the old Walsgrave Hospital.  This unit will house 20 beds and provide a much needed service which will benefit not just the people of Coventry but the whole of Coventry and Warwickshire. 

£7million was needed to fund this work and, with £5million raised. building work began on 30th August this year.  Myton Hospice is now looking to raise the final £2million to complete the project and open its doors to its first patients in 2009.

Facilities and Funding

The new hospice will consist of a 20 bedded in-patient unit providing support and reassurance to patients and their families at the most traumatic time of their lives.  Focus will be upon symptom control and pain relief as well as end of life care.   In addition there will also be a 12 place day hospice also providing care and activities for those needing support for one day each week.  Other services will include counselling, physiotherapy, complimentary services and bereavement services.

The local Primary Care Trust have committed to 50% of the hospices running costs for the in-patient unit.  The rest will be met with voluntary donations and funding.

For further information please use our Information request page. Alternatively call us on 01926 492518 and ask for the Coventry Fundraising Team.