Planning approved for our Inpatient Unit upgrade

09 January 2026 | View all news

Planning permission has been approved for the refurbishment of our Inpatient Unit at our site on Weston Road, Stafford.

This £1.5 million project will allow us to modernise a much-loved part of our hospice and make a real difference to the experience of patients, families and staff.

Work is expected to begin in spring 2026, and all of our care services will continue throughout the project.

Creating more comfort, privacy and dignity

Our Inpatient Unit is now 25 years old and plays a vital role in caring for people across Stafford and the surrounding areas.

The refurbishment will create 10 private, en-suite bedrooms, giving patients and families more privacy, dignity and comfort at an incredibly important time. The new layout will also help to reduce noise, improve infection control and create a calmer, more welcoming environment overall.

For our staff, the upgraded space will offer more flexibility to provide truly personalised care.

Care will continue as normal

We know how important continuity of care is. While the work is taking place, all of our services will continue, including our busy outpatient clinics in the Therapy & Wellbeing Centre.

We’ll do everything we can to keep disruption to a minimum and maintain the high standards of care our community expects.

Planning for the future

Demand for palliative and end-of-life care is expected to rise significantly over the next 20 years. This investment helps ensure we can continue to be there for local families, now and in the future.

Alongside the refurbishment, recent government capital funding will support further improvements, including:

• Installing solar panels, saving over £15,000 a year on energy bills
• Upgrading our oxygen supply
• Increasing parking capacity at the hospice

Supported by our community

We’ve been really encouraged by the positive feedback and support already shared by our community.

As our Lead Hospice Nurse, Carina Lowe, explains:

“Private rooms will give people comfort, dignity and a real sense of home at a difficult time. They help patients feel settled and safe and allow families to spend precious time together.”

She also highlighted how important it’s been to listen:

“Staff, patients and families have all shared their views. We’ve also worked with Asist Advocacy Services to make sure the new space will meet the needs of the people who use it.”

What happens next?

We’ll now move forward with appointing contractors and confirming the construction timetable. We’ll continue to share updates with patients, families and supporters as plans progress.

To help fund the project, we’re exploring a mix of options, including our own reserves, charitable trust funding and a community fundraising appeal planned for early this year.

Thank you, as always, for being part of our journey and for helping us care for our community when it matters most.